For the fifth consecutive summer selected art students have shared their artistic abilities with the school and community by painting murals for the walls of Merrill High School. Through the Honors Art Workshop, 11 students have completed paintings which will adorn the walls of the school.

The focus of this year’s mural project is the "Rockwell Wall," with reproductions of 10 Norman Rockwell favorites from the cover illustrations of the Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell was chosen as the featured artist because of his portrayal of average Americans during a nearly 50-year period from 1916-1963. The paintings will hang opposite the "Freedom Wall," a mini gallery of reproductions of historical United States documents.

Two additional murals, a portrait of the Dali Llama (representing World Languages) and Ellen Swallow Richards (representing Family and Consumer Education) will complete the portrait gallery in the student commons, where a total of 13 portraits represent each of the high school’s academic departments.

The goal of the Merrill High School Art Department is to create a gallery-like environment and to familiarize the entire student body, as well as the community, with well known artists and their paintings. A total of 60 paintings now decorate the walls of the first and second floors of the building. Not only do these murals introduce the student body to art history, they also create a visually stimulating atmosphere.

The selection process for the Honors Art Mural Painting workshop is a prestigious one. Students are selected by their art teachers to participate in the workshop by demonstrating outstanding artistic talent and commitment over the previous school year. Students are required to complete a year of intense study of drawing and painting to show an excellent work ethic along with evidence of being able to commit to this huge endeavor.

This year’s mural artists were Rachel Akey, Rebecca Blakeslee, Katrina Brickner, Maria DeBroux, Chelsea Dorgan, Michelle Gervais, Amanda Jensen, Jenna July, Rachel Mueller, Rachel Plautz and Reba Sjuggerud.

A fifth annual open house and reception honoring the 11 student mural artists will be held Feb. 6, from 1-4 p.m. at the high school. Along with the Open House, a second annual art alumni show is planned.

Reba Sjuggerud

Rebecca Blakeslee