Mantua – A new mural has been added to the wall at Crestwood Intermediate School, that artist Amanda Wascovich describes as “modern, whimsical graffiti.” The word ‘believe’ is larger than life and filled with images depicting sports, hobbies, foods, pets — all images inspired by CIS students.
“The idea of a mural started when our principal, Mr. Griffis, talked to me about having the 5th grade students paint a block on the wall as a memory of their 3 years spent at CIS,” explained CIS Visual Arts teacher Patty Timbrook. “I had that idea in my head, and after seeing the Mantua mural, and the affect it’s had in the Village, we decided to ask Amanda Wascovich, who helped create it, work with us.
“I loved the enormity of it and thought it would be fantastic not only to tie the community and school together,” explained Timbrook, “but to give students the opportunity to see a professional artist at work.” The CIS PTO agreed, funding the project with the stipulation that students would be involved in bringing the project to life. PTO President Amy Shelhamer noted. “With no field trips due to Covid, the PTO had the funds for the project. We knew of Amanda’s work in Mantua, and were thrilled that kids would help create this uplifting message to inspire and encourage current and future students.”
The design was chosen based on discussions between Timbrook and Wascovich, where they envisioned a “power word” as a theme. “I had the students and staff vote for their favorite power word, and BELIEVE was by far the favorite word,” Timbrook explained. The mural’s prominent color is red, Crestwood’s school color. The design also includes a wishing rainbow and shooting star to signify belief and hope; these images help makes the design colorful and add dimension. “I also had the students add their ideas of what objects, symbols they would like to see with this word — from their lives at school and in the community,” Timbrook added. “Murals and public art are very trendy from small towns to large cities,” she continued. “I wanted our students to become more aware of these art forms. I felt that this hands-on project would aid them in gaining a better understanding of the process from the conception of ideas to all the actual work involved to bring them it to life.”
Wascovich agreed, sharing, “We got to share each part of the process with students — from blank wall, to design, then when the full-size design was outlined to the wall, then painted. We had to trust the process, knowing that something worthwhile takes time, and doesn’t just ‘pop up’.
Timbrook filled in the mural with her students during art class, while faculty and staff helped out during free moments. Even Superintendent David Toth added to the mural, which included his therapy dog Sloopy’s likeness. Wascovich designed the artwork more like a ‘paint-by-number’ coloring book to aid would-be artists in filling it in, since Covid prevented her from directing the work. Once student work was completed, Wascovich, Timbrook, and Haley Howard, an art student-teacher from CMS, ‘polished up’ the final design.
Throughout the process, Gifted teacher Natalie Horvath’s CHARGE students documented the project. They conducted interviews via video with Wascovich to find out more about what it’s like to be a professional artist, what inspires her, and how the pandemic has affected the art community. Students also learned about video production as they formed teams to film and edit the artist interview, document the painting process, and voice-overs as well as a storyline for the video they produced for school-wide viewing.
Wascovich has worked with kids and adults before, but was excited to help bring this interactive, hands-on project to life at Crestwood Intermediate School. The project was bittersweet for Wascovich, since Covid prevented her from being in the building during the school day. “The pandemic challenged us to come up with new ways to create art and create interaction,” she added. “Opportunities like this are so important for visual learning,” she noted. “And with Covid, it’s important to bring color and positivity to people, providing us all with something to look forward to,” she added.
See this and Wascovich’s other work in her online portfolio: awascovich.com
