Students at Walton High School in Marietta, Calif., created the winning mural in the first “Water is Life” Classroom Mural and Art Challenge, sponsored by the Wyland Foundation.
Photo courtesy of Wyland
The mural, at right, shows a great deal of creativity and artistic ability. Earth is featured in a center panel, with other panels picturing a freshwater stream and sea creatures. Kathleen Petka is the classroom teacher. The judges noted:
“Prismatic effect provides unique view of water-based ecosystems, shows how water supports life in so many ways. The rendering itself was stunning and beautiful. The mural shows tremendous forethought and pre-planning and a clear objective.”
Wyland photo
Other top winners are Northern Elementary School in Lexington, Ky., in the kindergarten through fourth-grade category (teacher: Kimberly Vaca), and East Grand Middle School in Grandby, Colo., in the fifth- through eighth-grade category (teacher: Katrina Larson).
Here’s what the judges said about the mural by the younger students from Lexington:
“Great message. Not only is the water issue important locally, but what we do locally affects us nationally … and worldwide. Love the variety of sea life, especially the blow fish who is looking straight at the viewer, almost imploring us to ‘get’ the message and take it to heart.”
And for the middle school students from Granby, the judges had these comments:
“Excellent brush technique for the grass. Excellent blending of colors to show the current in the river. Beautiful trout rendition; mammals and birds are great — moose, deer, mallard, fox. Great perspective … foreground, middle ground, background.”
Wyland photo
More than 9,000 students from 46 states reportedly participated in the contest exploring the human connections to water and emphasizing how water shapes the world. For individual winners and runners up, go to “2013 Classroom Mural Results” on Wyland Foundation’s website.
“Many of the artworks were heavily nature-based,” state’s the description on the website. “Others made personal statements about mankind’s connection to these resources, while still others were more figurative.”
The mural contest is being planned again, with entries to be submitted toward the end of this year, possibly a little earlier than last year.
The Wyland Foundation, started by environmental artist Robert Wyland, is dedicated to helping people understand the importance of healthy oceans and waterways. The nonprofit foundation has worked with more than 1 million children since its inception in 1993.
Efforts include public art programs, classroom science education and other events, including the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Bremerton was the 2013 winner of the water challenge in the category for cities with populations from 30,000 to 100,000. See Water Ways, May 3, 2013.
If you’re wondering why this entry is a day late, it is because I had the day off yesterday with some technical issues in getting the information together.
