“The principle of true art is not to portray, but to evoke.” – Jerzy Kosinski
The student members of the Metea Valley National Art Honor Society embarked on an artistic journey that would take them most of their school year. Their mission was to create a mural portraying the five core values of Loaves & Fishes Community Services: Community, Compassion, Dignity, Hope and Service. The concept originated from Director of Volunteer & Corporate Engagement Shelly Schmitz when she approached Iris Xu, a Loaves & Fishes teen board member.
”This mural painting experience turned out to be a lot more extensive than I anticipated it to be, but it was such a great experience to work with many artists with varying ideas and creativity,” said Iris Xu, also a member of the MVHS Honors Art Society.
Metea Valley art instructor and National Art Society Sponsor Karen Popovich said it was rewarding to work with her students.
“I am so proud of all the hard work and dedication these students have put forth in this project,” said Popovich. “Collaborating on this project has been a great learning opportunity and we are happy to present this mural to Loaves and Fishes.”
The mural, size ten feet wide by four feet high, was presented by the Honors Art Club and installed in the volunteer gathering area at Loaves & Fishes.
“I had no idea how strategic this art project would become,” said Schmitz. “After choosing the techniques of artist Romero Britto, the club met for five months before and after school. The students worked carefully on the intricate detail.”
The mural is an appreciative gesture to Loaves & Fishes volunteers who, through their continued dedication to Loaves & Fishes’ core values, serve struggling families and individuals on a daily basis.
“My imagination was not grand enough to envision the outcome of this teen effort,” said Schmitz. ” The mural really does reflect our volunteer family – amazing, incredible people that wow me with their kindness every day!”
