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Students design high school mural

10/13/21 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Brendan ikens works on the original brownstone Altoona school building.

The blank wall just inside the main entrance in the B building at Altoona Area High School will soon be filled with a colorful array of artwork that “embodies all our school is and can be,” said Brendan Aikens, 16.

The AASD junior is one of about 50 art students who have been working to fill the white space with a mural depicting athletics and academics, history and art, and even the mountains as seen through the many windows at the front of the building.

Aikens, who was painting the window panes on a depiction of the original brownstone school building, said he likes art, though he prefers drawing versus painting.

The project to brighten the entryway began last school year with students in the high school’s art in public places classes, said art teacher Kathryn Curry.

The bare wall, and other “empty” spaces in the new high school building were left blank on purpose.

When the school was being furnished, artwork was “suggested,” said Paula Foreman, district spokeswoman. But instead, the district chose to leave the space for the students to beautify.

With help from Deb Bunnell, an artist in residence through the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, students last school year mapped out what they wanted to do to fill the entryway space — a “blank canvas” that is more than 27 feet long and 9 feet high.

“It’s huge,” Curry said.

An artist who lives in Hollidaysburg, Bunnell has created murals with local students and on her own, but she said this one, when done, will be among the largest she’s worked on.

To decide what to put into the mural, students looked through photos, yearbooks and clippings. They narrowed down their choices and worked out a layout.

Bunnell then projected the design onto polytab — a very thin canvas material — and drew the outlines in pencil.

Since the second week of the current school year, students in the painting and art in public places classes have been using acrylic paint to fill in the canvas sheets.

It doesn’t matter that the students are all at different skill levels, Bunnell said, as there is something for everyone.

While working on the project, “they’ll get more skill and better at painting,” she said, adding that the students are working diligently to do their best work.

“They know what a prominent place it will be. They want to do a good job,” she said.

When finished, the mural will show students taking part in everything from football and basketball to band, cheerleading and robotics.

The Coffee Cart is even included.

Centering the piece is a portrait of a mountain lion — the school mascot.

The world, with blue oceans and green continents, is in the bottom right and the cosmos are scattered above the mountains.

The history of the school is also featured, first with the original brownstone on the left, then the old

B building near the center and the new building on the right.

Between maroon school uniforms, silver/gray robotics and everything in between, “there’s lots of shading,” said student Karen Duffy.

Bunnell said the mural is one of the most involved she’s worked on because of all the subjects students wanted to include.

“We tried to put everything in,” she said.

Duffy, who took on the world Thursday during her painting class, said she likes to create. She is planning to go to college as an education major, but might minor in art. “I like to draw and paint,” she explained.

For senior Keriah Rolley, art class “is my most calming class.” But, she usually sketches.

“Painting is new to me,” she said.

Kylie Fochtt, Morgan Kearney and Aubrey Dietzel all said they look forward to art classes and in particular are enjoying the work on the mural.

“Everyone has an individual part,” “It’s so nice and relaxing,” “It’s my favorite,” they chimed in at once.

Leah DeGennaro, a junior, usually works in charcoal and pencil, but found herself shading a shirt during class on Thursday. Everyone pitches in on whatever needs to be done, she and the other students said.

The painting should wrap up this week because Bunnell’s residency is nearing its end. When the panels are dry, she’ll take them home, do any needed touch ups and then prepare them for installation. A medium will be spread on the wall and the polytab pieces will be put into place. Then they’ll be permanently sealed.

It is hoped the piece can be installed over Christmas break, but if not, at least before the end of the school year, Foreman said.

While the students who worked on the mural will move on, they will leave a piece of themselves behind.

Each artist was encouraged to create their own individual logo or signature, and they have hidden them among the background elements. Those taking a closer look will perhaps find a watermark in the blue sky or a signature in the grass.

These hidden gems will help pull viewers into the mural to search them out and get them to take a closer look at all the work the students accomplished.

With the theme of “Dream Big,” the mural is “everything the kids are proud of about their school,” Bunnell said.

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