In winter 2023, I collaborated with Ringgold Middle School art teacher Marlynn White and approximately forty students to create a 9’ x 24’ mural depicting species of fish that would live nearby in the Monongahela River and in Mingo Creek. Students painted abstract river currents on pine board donated by 84 Lumber and then created colorful aluminum can collages with hammers, nails, scissors, and repurposed/recycled aluminum cans. Species depicted included bluegill, black crappie, creek chub, emerald shiner, golden red horse, striped shiner, large mouth bass, rock bass, muskellunge, and log perch! Students created a range of mountains above the banks of the river by creating torn paper collages on wood, and a setting sun created with aluminum Coca-Cola cans and repurposed plastic packaging. Marlynn is one of the most motivated and driven teachers I’ve ever collaborated with—I was blown away by her commitment to making this project happen—she applied for a grant from 84 Lumber for the materials donation, and hosted both a GoFundMe and a pepperoni roll sale utilizing delicious baked goods from Rolling Pepperoni.
When the installation site at the school became unavailable, she also worked tirelessly to find a new home for the mural, connecting with Pam Kilgore of WashPa Outdoors to move the mural to Washington for finishing work and installation at Firefly Gardens. This beautiful community garden already was home to beautiful community art and a thriving community and in some ways, this new site is even better than the initial intended one at the school. I worked with Marlynn to seal and adapt the mural for its new site, and Marlynn in turn enlisted help from Pam and the garden community, as well as Marlynn’s husband Mike Bruno, and fellow Ringgold art teacher Jessica O’Brien.
The mural was installed at Firefly Gardens with a public unveiling on September 7. Visit the mural and the other art at the beautiful community garden located behind Freedom Transportation Center at 50 E Chestnut Street the next time you’re in the area!
