This “Garden” wraps the four walls of an interior, windowless courtyard in the school building with ceramic flowers created by a class of ninth and tenth grade students. Each student was asked to create one large flower, three smaller, similar flowers and lastly a garden creature for their fifth piece. They were also asked to create numerous smaller tiles, which adorned the larger wooden pieces (clouds, sun and stems) and visually brought the garden together. Finally, grass and stones were made to complete the scene. The mural began after a couple months of working with the clay and glazes, creating incrementally more and more complex work. It was wonderful for me, as a teacher, to watch their work and knowledge grow over the course of our time together. The detail, craftsmanship, use of color and texture in this whimsical mural is fantastic. Witnessing the students’ reaction to the mural on Monday morning, after our weekend installation, was so joyful!

Funded by MCC STARS Residency