A WONDERFUL DISTRACTION FOR

CHILDREN

“Under !e Sea”

A colorful “Under the Sea” mural created by 12 of Newark High School art teacher Renee Bailey’s students has not only brightened the look of the waiting room at Rochester General Medical Group’s (RGMG) Pediatric Office on the campus of Newark Wayne Community Hospital, but given children something really fun to look at and think about while waiting to see their physician. Wendy Fisher, RGMG’s Pediatric Office practice manager, who arranged with Bailey to have her students create the mural _ comprised of 12 individually painted panels that was installed by them November 14th _ said it’s already a big hit with patients.

“It’s beautiful,’’ Fisher said November 17th. “It has really brightened up the office for children in our community.”

"e mural is situated in such a way that it is the focal point as soon as anyone comes through the front entrance.

Bailey’s students also painted other colorful #sh and corals on the walls in the waiting room after they installed the mural and it all ties beautifully together.

The artists:

Juliet Rothpearl (12) Mixed MediaMario Chavez (12) Mixed MediaEvan Robson (11) Mixed MediaRyan Kreuser (12) Drawing & Painting 2Marleah Cunningham (12) Mixed MediaGrace Blondell (11) AP StudioHannah Triplett (11) AP StudioCourtney Caralla (11) AP StudioJulia Bailey(12) Mixed MediaApurba Ahmed (12) Mixed MediaJovany Jimenez (11) Mixed MediaLiliana Santana (12) AP Studio

Fisher, a 1987 NHS graduate and mother of Hannah Triplett, a junior in Bailey’s Advanced Placement Studio, #rst ran the idea of having NHS art students do something artistic for the waiting room last spring. Besides giving students a place outside of school to display their artwork,

she also suggested the project’s value in both giving budding artists a “real life” experience as well as providing a great community service volunteer

opportunity for them as well.Triplett thought it was a great idea and spoke with Bailey, who

agreed, and then she talked with Fisher about it. It was decided to do the project this fall and to have it be an authentic learning experience for the

student artists.“We approached this as a “job” and how it would be in real life as an

artist being hired, working on a team and being involved in an on-site installation,’’ Bailey said.

Acting as a “client” for the artists. Fisher described her vision of having a colorful and tranquil ocean life scene painted to the AP Studio in

Arts class members in October. "e class was charged with coming up with a project concept that they and students from Bailey’s Mixed Media and

Drawing class and her Painting 2 class would develop. Once the concept was decided upon, the AP Studio in Art students

researched imagery for the overall composition.  Bailey said the decision was made to have the mural be comprised of individual panels so that each student working on it could use it as a senior portfolio piece in picture

format. “"is also gave equal ownership in the mural,” she said.  

All the students involved in the project began to layout their individual compositions October 9th and painting began October 14th.

“Because there were three different classes involved in the mural, it meant there needed to be constant communication between the classes to

keep the overall mural united. "e classes had various progress checks to make sure they were on target for the installation and that each panel

matched up in color and imagery as they worked.” Bailey explained. “ . . . "ey were able to see the fruits of their labor come together as one in the

end. On the day of installation, the students also added to the theme of “Under the Sea” throughout the entire pediatrics office by painting #sh and

coral from their mural onto the walls to balance out and lead you to the overall mural.”

Bailey said the pediatrics office waiting room was #lled with excitement November 14th as her students

installed the mural and then painted ocean life throughout the room.

“"e office was open when we installed the mural so there was a lot of talk and interest expressed from patients as we were putting it up and painting,”

Bailey said.She said the pediatric office staff sent her

students “a beautiful thank you card with personal notes, including:

• "Great work, never stop creating"• ""ank you so much for your creativity and

hard work, it looks beautiful! Our patients will enjoy it for many years to come."

Like Fisher, Bailey is very pleased with the outcome.

“I love it. My students worked really hard. I am very proud of them. "ey did a great job

working together as a team. It worked out really well. For the majority of the artists, this was

their #rst major painting on this scale and depth. "e overall experience was very

enlightening and exciting for them. "ey are proud to use their talents to give back to their

community and hope the children that visit love the “Under the Sea” mural.

Thanks to Janine DeCook, at NWCH and Renee Bailey for providing

photos!