Thalia and Melpomene, the ancient Greek muses, are frequently depicted in modern theater by two masks with exaggerated expressions. These iconic theatrical symbols, one smiling and one frowning, represent the divide between comedy and tragedy, and feature prominently in a Mount Madonna School (MMS) student mural recently installed at the Upper Campus.The untitled mural was created during the previous school year and all middle school students, sixth through eighth grades, contributed to its design. Middle school art teacher Sandy Shaw oversaw the project (her second student mural project for the campus), with support from faculty member Bob Caplan.
Shaw said the idea to create a student mural was inspired by faculty member Sarojani Rohan, who annually engages faculty members in group art projects during the August faculty retreat before school begins. Rohan approached Shaw and Caplan to encourage the creation of more permanent art to be exhibited around the campus.
‘I have a deep faith and appreciation for keeping the creativity alive and looking for expression in all of our students,’ shared Sarojani. ‘It is a school privilege and responsibility to be able to showcase our students’ talents. Under the guidance and support of our gifted art teachers, student art work, displayed beautifully, adds vitality to our campus aesthetics and inspires appreciation for the visual arts.’
After working with the eighth grade class on an earlier mural (installed in May 2014 near the first grade classroom), Shaw said she was confident in the students’ abilities and focus, and allowed them creative control over the design and composition. After some discussion, the students chose a theatrical theme.
‘Eighth grader Ruby Bracher sketched the masks that became the basis for our design,’ Shaw explained. ‘Once we had that element, other students contributed their ‘zen doodling’ to add a beautiful rainbow theme around them.’
The doodling was the students’ nod to the Zentangle lessons Shaw taught in her art classes. Zentangle is method that uses repetitive patterns to create beautiful images.
The students’ completed, original work was done on a large sheet of paper. Once completed, Caplan cut the mural into 6’ x12’ and 9’ x 12’ sections that could be individually scanned. After the scanned sections were pieced back together, the digital files were sent to an outside company for printing of the vibrant finished artwork.
‘We made a conscious, creative decision to retain the spaces between mural sections,’ Shaw said. ‘We think this ’tiled’ format added to the finished piece.’
The finished 4′ x 8′ mural is printed on metal and includes a sun and weather-resistant finish to aid in longevity.
‘We really wanted the whole middle school to be involved with its creation since it was to be hung in the middle school quad,’ noted Shaw. ‘Part of our intention was to acknowledge and help define that middle school has its own identity and place, that it is more than just a ‘transition’.’
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Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.
