The Rainforest mural is located in the Upper Elementary School Building of PHA. It was a collaboration between the tenth Grade Art 3 class and the Upper Elementary Art Club students. The students were presented with a variety of plant and animal life found in the rainforest and then asked to create leaves, flowers, insect and animal sculptures. In addition, the students created hundreds of stone, bark and stem tiles. As the boxes of glazed ceramic pieces filled the storage room the students could not imagine how their work would come together and yet I kept requesting they produce more. The rainforest is densely full of life and the mural had to be, as well. After several months building our inventory the mural was ready to be installed. The tree and the stone path with its leafcutter ants lead the way down the hallway. As we installed the work, elementary students passing by stopped to discuss the rainforest with us. Once complete, we brought the tenth graders to view their work where they beamed at their accomplishments.

Funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Somerville Arts Council