Freeman Foundation funds mural at Sussex Academy
The 11th legacy mural project, the first initiative of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation's Arts in Education program, was completed and revealed in November.
From Nov. 13 to 17, middle school students at Sussex Academy in Georgetown created book spines for this visual legacy in their school for future students. The goal of this project is to provide an opportunity to bolster confidence and inspiration within the student body as well as offer students an opportunity to experience the visual arts firsthand. Local artist John Donato leads students throughout the project as he assists them in developing ideas and painting mural pieces.
Seventh-grader Holly Calloway had an underwater theme for her book spine, where she drew a key under water, because, she said, "Confidence can be hard to find. If you are confident in anything you do, you're almost always going to achieve greatness." For Calloway, the project was not only fun, but also a confidence booster. She said working with Donato was great because he was there for guidance. "Coming into this project, I was 50/50 on what I was going to do and I didn't know how it was going to turn out. But afterward, I am pretty proud of how it turned out and I'm glad I did it," Calloway said.
Dr. Patricia Oliphant, head of Sussex Academy, was appreciative for the opportunity to participate in this mural project as it was a chance to bind the school together, she said. Sussex Academy students were engaged in a school-wide expedition known as Common Ground, where every student in the school is involved in conversations and activities about what makes them human and what draws them together.
"To be able to have [John Donato and the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation] come here and have this be a centerfold to this expedition was very important," Oliphant said.
Without an organization such as the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, arts education programs like the mural project would not be possible, she said, adding the partnership with arts organizations provides the financial and human resources schools may not have.
Oliphant along with other teachers and administrators also created their own book spines to be a part of the mural. "My own book spine is my story – as an educator and my personal story," she said. "I'm glad it's up there."
As for the project overall, Oliphant is delighted with the outcome. "These youngsters who were involved in this can come back year after year or day after day, they can look at their friends' work, their own work and I'm sure years from now, they're going to come back and say, 'I did that and this is what it meant,'" she said. "I think it's marvelous; we are very, very appreciative."
