Mosaic project fosters art skills, community spirit

K-5 students at Trinity East Elementary School recently completed a 15-foot mosaic art project on a stone shed adjacent to the school. The project, started in the fall of 2020, was funded through a grant from the EQT Foundation and facilitated by artists from the Pittsburgh Glass Center and teacher Adrienne Day. The mural depicts images representing school identity, such as the school’s “Be the Kind Kid” motto, as well as local scenes like the Washington County Courthouse.

In an article in the Observer-Reporter, Day said the mural was focused on teaching students foundational art concepts to prepare them for further studies in middle and high school. They not only learned artistic skills in a hands-on way, but were also instructed in the history of mosaics and some of the more famous examples and artists of the art form. Students began by creating a paper mosaic before learning how to safely cut, glue and space the glass pieces. Not only was the project a success, but the students looked forward to working on it, Day said.

Day also oversaw a mosaic mural project at Trinity South, and students at Trinity North and Trinity West completed mini-mosaics.