Murals to be given as a community gift
By: Amanda Bok
High school art students and a local artist are joining forces to give a gift to the community.
Students from Betty Ann Snedicker’s Portfolio art classes will spend the next few months working with local artist Ludvic Saleh on two mural-type paintings to be placed in the municipal building.
The students met with Mr. Saleh, school officials and members of the township Monday to kick-off and discuss the project.
"We’re very excited about the mural," said Mayor Debra Johnson. "We’re enthused to have students work on the project. It will be South Brunswick giving back to South Brunswick."
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for our kids to work with an accomplished artist," said Principal Tom Kietrys.
Mr. Saleh designed the motif for the paintings and the students will assist him in creating it. He said the project will take several months, but he hopes to unveil it at the first township meeting of the new year.
The proposed design is reminiscent of the Crossroads school credo, "crossroads of change," said Mr. Saleh. The design is comprised of geometric and colorful arches that overlap repeatedly and connect in the middle. Mr. Saleh said the paintings’ colorful foregrounds represent the community’s diversity.
"There is no art in the main meeting room of the municipal building," said Mr. Saleh, noting that art is an integral component of community life and should be represented there.
On Monday he told students, "What I want to convey to you is the art of giving. As you grow up, you will have to give back to your community," he said. "I want your energy with me, and your dedication. At the end we will be proud to present something (to the community) that says ‘thank you for dedicating your work to us’."
The project is sponsored by the South Brunswick Arts Task Force and funded through an emergency grant of $1,000 provided by the Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Middlesex County Freeholders, as well as through donations from various businesses, including Daler-Rowney, which is supplying the paints, and Latanzio Lumber, which is donating the wood.
Mr. Saleh said students will assist in creation of the paintings, and learn in the process.
"I will stretch the canvas with the help of the students," said Mr. Saleh, citing the step-by-step procedures of priming the canvas, taping off sections for the colors and so forth.
"This will open and widen their eyes to the process of making art," he said. "This is a long and engaging process where students will come and learn. We will talk about colors, composition and technique."
Mr. Saleh told students Monday he would be a coach to them – not another teacher.
Beginning next week, they will meet after school in the art room or in Mr. Saleh’s South Brunswick studio three to four times a week for a few hours at a time, he said.
Participating students are juniors and seniors, along with one sophomore. All plan to continue their studies in art. Many said this will be the first time they work with oils and acrylic, as well as with a professional artist. They also said it is the first time they will collaborate on an art project.
"I am excited. I want to do something in the future with art," said Lauren Westenhiser, a junior. "This is an opportunity to learn from a professional artist, someone other than a teacher."
Junior Dominique Worthington agreed. "I thought it would be interesting to learn different things from different people," she said, adding that students learn from teachers every day, and this would offer a different perspective. She also said it would be an interesting experience to cooperate with other students on a painting.
"You have to depend on another person and make sure you got it right," she said.
Junior Caroline Saienni said she was simultaneously excited and nervous.
"He has got a lot of experience and it will be good to learn from him. I hope he likes what we do and I hope we finish," she said.
Sophomore Jenna Farmer and senior Jessica Merrit said they are looking forward to the hands-on experience.
To other students, however, the experience is not entirely new. Seniors Ada Fung and Mark Nartey already have worked on large, collaborative projects. At the request of the athletics director, Elaine McGrath, they adorned the hallway with black silhouettes of athletes representing all sports active in the school. They began in September and almost have completed the 30 or so figures of athletes in motion.
At the behest of Superintendent of Schools Sam Stewart, the two said they also will write a proposal for a mural to adorn one of the school’s hallways. Both plan on studying graphic design in the future.
"Art is for me an instrument to express my views toward life," Ada said.
"I feel I can translate the world around me, all my ideas and thoughts, and communicate them through art," said Mark.
They said they were looking forward to Mr. Saleh’s input and insight. However, they also said they felt wary about working on someone else’s project and following his instructions.
"It’s his piece of work, we just follow his instructions," said Mark. "But it will be good to work together on a project and cooperate with ideas."
Ada said she also was used to working on her own and didn’t know if she would feel comfortable following instructions. But, she said it would be a good experience and it would discipline her.
The other participating students, who couldn’t attend the kick-off, are juniors Kim Herbst, Rebecca Stoloff and Aisleen Romano.