Location:

Bergen Arts and Science Charter School in Garfield, NJ

 

Students from all grade levels 4-7 collaborated to design and install an inspirational permanent Mosaic Mural. The Mosaic was designing around the phrase “BASCS Growing Family” to showcase how the school’s mission is to develop an ideal environment for intellectual and social development utilizing a community of students, educators, families, and the community as a whole. The collaborative installation contains broken pieces of tile and broken glass so the community can see their own reflection in the design.

With the help of raised funds from the annual Art Fair, the students and I installed the mosaic from scratch, first getting materials donated from Home Depot, glazing tiles, firing tiles, cracking, grinding, fitting, installing, grouting, etc. The project became a community wide artwork as family member’s lent a helping hand and placed a part of the mosaic to the wall when picking their child up after school, or when staff had a free period they would stop in the auditorium to leave their own piece in the mosaic. Students learned to work as a collaborative team towards a common goal. Students were able to become trained and skilled in an area of medium that most Middle School Children do not get a chance to receive. They worked with glass cutters, glass grinders, broken tile and mirror, mortar, and grout. The Mosaic Mural glistens and shines during all events and lunches hosted in the auditorium.