District News

Students and artist collaborate on historic mural 

 

March, 2011

 

Michelle Egelston was looking for a way where students could leave their mark.

She found it.

Thanks to Local Capacity Building (LCB) Arts in Education grant, Canajoharie Middle School art teacher, her seventh and eight grade students, and visiting mural artist David Fichter are creating a colorful 8-by-28-foot mural featuring the unique history, landmarks and natural wonders of Canajoharie. When it’s finished, it will hang in the elementary school cafeteria.

The mural depicts the Erie Canal, Arkell Museum, Susan B. Anthony, current students and more. About 130 students from the seventh and eight grades worked on it before it moved to Canajoharie High School this week. Fichter, a graduate of Harvard, is at the school helping the students along with art teacher Kathy Van Loan.

Mrs. Egelston was looking for a project that would actively involve a large number of students as well as the community. Her three previous projects were two giant murals and a mosaic which was completed last year and hangs outside the office at the middle school. For this project, students have worked alongside teachers, parents, and grandparents.

The acrylic mural the students are working on doesn’t just teach them about art, Mrs. Egelston said. She created an interdisciplinary lesson that works in other non-arts curricular areas.

Before students picked up a brush, they visited the Arkell Museum and conducted extensive research in the school’s computer lab. The mural work also involved aspects of math, social studies and science (think the impact of local industrialization and agriculture on our ecosystem).

“My goal was to incorporate a lot of student research into this. The students have learned so much about history. As a teacher, I also want to connect students with the community,” Mrs. Egelston said.

“My students also get to work with a visiting artist. The kids like to feel empowered and although this is a lot of extra work, it’s worth it to see the looks on the kids’ faces.”

After the students completed their research, they sent pictures to Fichter, who then drew a sketch of the mural. Fichter, a Boston-area resident, has worked on about 200 murals around the Northeast. He said the students have been very serious during the process.

“They are very talented here,” he said. “They have been working hard, because I think they know it will be up for a long time.”

Eight grade student Raven Manchester said she “really loves art” and thinks the mural will be a great addition to the school. “I can’t wait to see it when I’m older,” she said.

Her classmate Stephany Fowler echoed her sentiment.

“When I get older, I can come back and see it, and I like that,” she said.

Mrs. Egelston plans an official unveiling of the mural in May along with a barbecue and art display.

For more pictures, click here.