By Lisa Carolin
When South Meadows Elementary School opened its doors to students and families for its Aug. 29 open house, the school also unveiled two murals.
In the entryway is a clay tile mural just across from the office, and in one of the hallways, there is a painted mural in the old telephone booth.
The murals were funded by the Chelsea Education Foundation, Rovin Ceramics, and an anonymous donor.
During the open house, Principal Stacie Battaglia directed her attention to the clay tile mural calling it, “A work of love.”
Chelsea School District Superintendent Julie Helber, who also attended the open house, remarked that the mural was beautiful.
South Meadows Art Teachers Penny Olsen and Janet Alford, now retired, were instrumental in helping to create the murals.
Olsen said, “This mural was created to enhance the entry to South Meadows, representing our warm and welcoming atmosphere, and as a symbol of our classroom structures where students often work on collaborative projects.”
Some students attending the open house sought out their contributions to the mural.
“Students brainstormed ideas for the imagery of the mural,” said Olsen. “They discussed what it means to be part of a learning community. The tree symbol was referred to the most as students referenced strong roots, sturdy trunk, and branches, which reach out in all directions, inclusive of student individuality and learning styles.”
Students started the mural in May using the slab method of working with clay.
The painted mural in the hallway is a repurpose of an old telephone booth that was most recently used as a reading nook. Now it is a tree house, which will be used for reading and playing games.
“Both murals are interactive public art,” said Olsen, adding that it’s rare for South Meadows students to get to work on public art pieces. “The fact that the murals are interactive, as all who come to South Meadows are encouraged to touch the textural tile mural and sit in the tree, is an important extension of the project.”
