Allendale Elementary Third-Grade Artists Create a Mosaic Mural

by Sheila D'Amico

Allendale Elementary School unveiled a new mosaic created by the third?-grade students just before the close of the school year in June. As a group of excited students, eager parents and teachers, and other community members waited, children's voices could be heard. "We had to use our hands to press the clay down until it got soft." "We used water and glitter and painted the tiles with glaze." Then, to the accompaniment of the fourth-grade percussion ensemble, Principal Steve Thomasberger pulled back a yellow paper cover, revealing a beautiful, colorful Solar System. "This mural is going to be here as long as the building is standing. And who made it?" Thomasberger asked. The students answered his question with a rousing response, "Third graders." And that's exactly who the artists were. Guided by Mary McDermott and Leslie Stott, local artists, the third-grade students designed and created the mural, which is just outside the front entrance of the school. McDermott thanked the students. "How could you put together a piece of art with 80 third graders? You are truly the artists. Thank you so much." Stott thanked the participating teachers, Ms. Swatt-Warsen, Ms. Anderson, Ms. Robinson, Mr. Datnow, and Mr. Pierce. She then described how students created the mural, speaking directly to the young artists. "Our process involved starting with the inspiration taken from your drawings. We collected your drawings of the solar system. We figured out how many square feet. Most of the mural was made from textured clay. Every piece of textured clay was made by the students. You chose the designs. The shapes, the stars, the planets are not cookie-cutter shapes. They have character created by the students. Bisque firing was by artists, while the students chose glaze colors. There was no individual ownership of the pieces. We reinforced the idea that this was a community project. Once the students painted glaze on the bisque, we took the pieces to the studio and they were glazed, fired, then grouted permanently to the wall. Congratulations to each one of you." Thomasberger thanked all the artists, teachers, and students and emphasized what he thinks about art in his school. "We think art is extremely important. I plan, as long as I am principal here, to teach art as well as academic subjects as much as possible." The school encourages art in many aspects. Murals decorate the sides of the buildings in the school yard. A new one, designed by Diego Rajo, a fourth-grade student, was in the finishing stages at the end of the school year. Not only was it designed by Diego, but students were painting the mural under his direction. You can see the solar system mosaic at the main entrance of the school. Look to your left before you enter the building. To see other murals in the school yard, check with the school office. They will be happy to show you the art at Allendale School.?