STUDENTS from Taree Christian College were invited to the launch of a new mural they painted which is on display at Wingham Museum.
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Accompanying them were school principal David Coleman, art teacher Catherine Grimwood and many proud parents toting cameras to capture the event with video and photographs.
Manning Valley Historical Society volunteer Bob Berry contacted the school asking if it would like to be involved in the project, and the answer was a resounding “yes!”.
“We paid for the boards and the school did the rest, with incredible enthusiasm,” Bob said.
Six months later the mural, painted by both art students and non-art students, plus Mrs Grimwood herself, takes pride of place above the crystal and mineral exhibition.
The artwork measures 1.2 metres high with two section lengths of 2.4 metres and 1.8 metres.
The mural presented a challenge as there was a post in the middle of the wall.
To overcome the problem, once the sections were hung Mrs Grimwood joined the two by painting the post for a seamless work.
The museum requested a landscape that included the area’s logging history.
The school used historical photographs as reference material, and sneakily added the school bull into the scene.
Museum staff are astounded by the result, with MVHS president Barbara Waters saying “it is so professional!”
“Whilst the artefacts here stand in their own right, we have taken the approach of incorporating into our displays elements such as this mural to add extra vibrancy to this wonderful collection,” museum curator Terry Tournoff said.
Students from years seven to 12 gave up lunch times and free periods to work on the project, and not all of them were art students.
Pictured in the photo accompanying this story are prinicipal David Coleman (far let), art teacher Catherine Grimwood (far right) and students Lucy Connon, Kaylee Green, Montana Hamming, Harrison King, Adisty Merriman, Stephanie Mitchell, Tahana Saunders, Charlotte Worth, Heavenlee Charlton, Logan Brace, Katanya Wisely, Abby Evans and Courtney Morgan (in no particular order).
Helping Mrs Grimwood and her students was Mrs Grimwood’s mother, Jennifer Parer.
Year 10 student Katanyua Wisely was one of the non-art students to participate, and it was the first time she had ever created an artwork.
“I was actually proud of myself that I could do something that looked good,” she said.
Once the official reveal was over, the museum provided morning tea to the school students and staff.