Art has joined hands with science in `Local Tails', the highly popular, revamped children's section at the Aquarium.

Well-known artist Vivienne Gardner has recently completed a series of life-size murals, the chief one of which echoes the theme of the rock-ringed salt-water touch pool. "I decided that the dark wall behind the pool certainly didn't relate to the pool. I thought it would be good to highlight its context, so I painted a rocky shoreline in which the real rocks would blend in,'' explains Mrs. Gardner. "I think the murals are also quite successful in enlarging the room.'' Describing the finished product as "superb'', senior curator Richard Winchell says that scientists tend to concentrate on the message and information: "Sometimes we forget that aesthetics are an important part of that -- in getting our message across effectively. Murals add so much, creating an atmosphere that makes the whole experience so much more valuable.'' "I knew my mother was talented,'' exclaims Mrs. Gardner's daughter Sue Stan who, for nine years has been exhibit and graphics designer for the Aquarium.

"I also know she had a lot of fun doing it -- we would find her standing in the touch pool, her shirt-tails trailing in the water and her toes looking like prunes when she finally came out.'' ("And star fish crawling up my legs,'' retorts Mrs. Gardner).

Standing in the `Local Tails' room as seemingly hundreds of children from the Aqua Camp and similar summer programmes are enjoying decidedly `hands on' experiences, head aquarist Jennifer Gray says: "The planning of this must have been one of our shortest time-frames ever. We felt there was a great need to renovate the old Invertebrate House and we also wanted to relocate the Discovery Room, so in December, I came up with the idea of combining the best of the two. We had a major facelift, the building has been opened up, and I think the murals bring the whole thing to life in a quite wonderful way.'' Murals featured at the Aquarium `Local Tails' has been designed by plant manager Gary MacPherson who, says Ms Gray, was also responsible for the construction. "He made almost everything in here. In the past we have gone to subcontractors but, this time, he has done the entire thing, and we are very proud of what he has achieved.'' Emphasising that an important part of the Aquarium's role is to tell Bermuda's story, Ms Gray adds that the murals help to do this. "Most importantly, we need to educate our children about our environment, but also, our visitors. I believe this room now brings the exhibition itself and our staff together in an interactive form to inspire every visitor. You should never come in here and not find a volunteer or staff member who can answer questions and encourage visitors to pick up animals. I can guarantee,'' she adds, "that by the time you leave, you will have picked one up!'' The enthusiasm of the staff certainly seems to infect the children who shriek with delight as fish leap out of the pool to catch proffered food, and as they watch a hive-full of very `busy bees' scurrying along a custom-built `bee highway' which provides an outlet to the outside world of flowers and pollen.

In the `Honeycomb' display case (complete with a `comb' big enough to hold a small child), Mrs. Gardner has also brought her considerable talent to the creation of a collection of delightful `model' bees. With each bee holding a specific job in this working hive, one model bee proclaims `I am a guard' and holds a placard which says `Buzz Off'.

The special `Activity Table' changes themes six times a year. "We also have demonstrations, short talks, and feeding times,'' says Mrs. Stan. Explaining that the renovations have been funded by the Bermuda Zoological Society and through a lot of volunteer work, she says she believes that `Local Tails' has now achieved a fine balance between educations and entertainment. "Education is the aim, but of course that education has to also entertain our children,'' she exclaims.

Admitting that she is "totally amazed'' by the success of her panoramic murals, Mrs. Gardner comments, "I always work better when I work fast -- when it just `happens' and rolls off the brush! By the way,'' she confides as she indicates a particularly life-like rock, "I got that nice knobbly look by painting with my fingers -- covered my fingers in paint and got stuck in! I've had a wonderful time.''