At the beginning of 2019 Main Street Rock Hall had a “Call for Artists” to re-envision, re-design and recreate three deteriorating murals in downtown Rock Hall while eliciting input and participation from both local school children and community members.
Students from the Public Art class at Wye River Upper School along with Art Teacher Katie Lillard and Language Teacher Karen Gilbert, worked together to submit a portfolio and apply for a mural spot. Their proposal was accepted and they quickly began their design process with knowledge of the location, theme and size of the mural.
Lillard, who has an expertise in mural design and installation, led her students to collaborate with Hagopian Arts, a professional mural company in Philadelphia that specialize in eco murals. The design phase lasted a few weeks and the class came up with a concept that highlighted the theme: “Bountiful Resources of the Chesapeake Bay–from Plants to Fish to Crustaceans.”
A digital design was created that could be projected onto a parachute cloth to be painted at the school. With paint donated by Sherwin Willians, students painted, similar to a paint by the numbers each shape. They partnered with both Kent County Middle and High Schools to join in the painting progress.
Their creation was turned into a digital design that could then be projected onto a parachute cloth to be painted at school and later adhered to the wall at the mural site. With paint generously donated from Sherwin Williams, students matched each shape to the color needed, similar to a large paint by numbers.
Wye River students have also partnered with two nearby Kent county schools to get the job done. Kent County Middle and Kent County High School students have been integral contributors to the painting process.
On May 28, 2019 the students delivered the mural to the Mainstay in Rock Hall for final installation.
In a press release they said that they are, “.. especially proud to be part of a project that not only gives students the chance to work together artistically to design a real-world, published and long-lasting design, but also promote education and awareness of the natural resources that surround us in the Chesapeake Bay area, a focus of study for our students.”
Work continues on all three of the new murals in Rock Hall. Chestertown artist Ken Castelli is doing the Bayside Foods mural depicting the lives and traditions of Chesapeake Bay watermen. Kirk Seese of BB Murals, in collaboration with Jen Jasper of Cecil County is doing the mural behind Java Rock that depict the lives and traditions of Eastern Shore farmers.
The Artists and the Main Street Rock Hall Steering Committee thank the following patrons and supporters of “The Murals of Rock Hall:” Bayside Foods (Debbie, Jeff and Andrew Carroll), Dowling’s Painting (Sam Dowling), Java Rock (Joanne and Jim Rich), Kent County Arts Council, the Mainstay, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, the Maryland State Arts Council and Sherwin Williams (Greg Krafchik).
Photos By SG Atkinson. More Photos of the Mainstay Mural installation can be see on the ChesaDel Crier FB Page
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WRUS is an independent high school serving the strengths and needs of bright students with learning differences. The school is located in the former Maryland National Guard Armory in Centreville, MD. WRUS accepts students on a rolling admissions basis. For more info about the school, visit www.wyeriverupperschool.org or contact Kimberleigh Garcia at 410-758-2922 or kimberleighgarcia@wyeriverupperschool.org.
