Celebrating the Arts and Promoting Inclusivity

By Mike LaBella

» mlabella@eagletribune.com

HAVERHILL — Working alongside a professional artist and arts department staff, more than 160 students at Haverhill High School created a 15-foot long mosaic mural depicting all of the various art forms found in the A-wing, or the arts wing of the high school, including music, ceramics, painting, photography and theater.

Students unveiled the mural, with the theme “Celebrating the Arts and Promoting Inclusivity” on May 16 and invited the public to see the results of the fourmonth long effort.

“This authentic hands-on learning experience has been incredible for our entire department,” said Fine Arts instructor Ellen Mullane.

Haverhill mosaic artist Cassie Doyon met with students in grades 9 through 12 as part of their arts classes during the school day, while National Art Honor Society members worked after school. For many arts students, it was their first time working with tiles that came in various shapes and sizes.

“All of the tiles were donated by Artaic, a wellknown mosaic tile company in Boston and also Daltile, a nationwide company that has a warehouse in Derry,” Doyon said. “Also I donated stained glass from my Haverhill studio.”

Mullane said the project began with art teacher Erin Foster asking her students for ideas and sketches that were then presented to National Art Honor Society members and seniors Amara Ezoke and Dean Reinoso. The pair turned the ideas into a sketch that Doyon brought to a local company for use in two, 7-foot long images.

Mullane said one image that runs the length of the mosaic is an all representation inclusivity flag. Other images include a drummer, students creating art, rehearsing a play on a stage, taking pictures of students rehearsing, drawing, painting, at a ceramics wheel and even a stage lighting technician at work.

The project came together on a long table inside the school’s art room, where students applied pieces of glass tile to a sticky mesh fiberglass backing. Once the mural was almost completed, it was transported in sections to a hallway in the A-wing, where it was mounted to a wall.

Mullane said two grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Haverhill Cultural Council totaling $6,000 paid for supplies and the artist’s salary.

“This allowed her to work hands-on with students four times a week for four months,” Mullane said.

Staff members who also pitched in included John Travlos, Melissa Allen, Peter Morse, Denise Torres, Jenna Lavallee and Mullane.

Haverhill High School senior and art major Dean Reinoso cuts the ribbon during the unveiling of the mosaic mural at Haverhill High. Reinoso, who will attend Montserrat College of Art in the fall, worked closely with Cassie Doyon of Haverhill, the project’s artist-in- residence. The Fine Arts Department unveiled the mosaic mural the entire department worked on with Doyon. Students and staff worked collaboratively for the past four months to create the 15-foot long mural depicting various arts found at HHS.

CARL RUSSO/ Staff photos

Ellen Mullane, right, dean of the Fine Arts Department at Haverhill High, and senior Dean Reinoso, left, applaud artist-in-residence Cassie Doyon of Haverhill after being introduced during the unveiling.