Photo by GEORGE PELLETIER Committee chair Vyonne Dunetz rings a ceremonial bell, joined by Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess.

The skies cleared as participants also commemorated the Labyrinth Walk for World Peace at 1 p.m.

Committee chair Yvonne Dunetz rang a ceremonial bell for the hours in each day as spectators gathered and walked the parks labyrinth of more than 10,000 hand-laid bricks.

“It was perfect that we combined the Walk for World Peace and the Gallery at the Wall today,” she said. “To have the children’s work be displayed is touching and very meaningful to me, because when you see through the mouths of babes, in a sense, what they view as diversity, and the words that they used and ideas that they painted is incredible.”

More than 350 student submissions were judged by a panel and on Saturday, that artwork was revealed with song, presented by the Charlotte Avenue Elementary School chorus, and by artist Yusuf Abudi and by committee co-chair Sy Mahfuz.

Photo by GEORGE PELLETIER Mayor Jim Donchess cuts the ribbon at the opening ceremony at the Gallery of the Wall on Saturday.

Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess welcomed the crowd, saying, “I’m honored to be here to celebrate this opening. The artwork was created by students across the city, celebrating diversity here in Nashua, which is the most diverse and inclusive city in this state of New Hampshire, and we are a welcoming city.”

Donchess also pointed out that Nashua is the only city in the U.S. to have an outdoor gallery of this kind.

“We also have over 30 diverse sculptures from artists around the world,” he said. “And many of you may not know that the New Hampshire State Council of the Arts, an organization based in Concord, selected Nashua for the Governor’s Award as New Hampshire’s most creative community.”

Telegraph Publisher and Gallery at the Wall committee member Heather Goodwin Henline also was on hand to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.

“I’m so happy to see so many children and their families and friends here today who could join in this with us,” she said. “Really, that’s what got us connected with The Telegraph to this project.”

Photo by GEORGE PELLETIER The Gallery at the Wall, featuring student artwork, from grades K- 12, and from the Adult Learning Center.

More importantly, Henline said this was a celebration of the arts.

“Funding that, encouraging that, that inspiration that comes forth is so incredibly important. And we are ecstatic as a community member to do that, and I celebrate and encourage all of you today.”

The artwork will be displayed in the outdoor gallery until mid-April 2021.

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