Opening Event Press Release
Woodbury City Public
School District
25
N. Broad Street
Woodbury,
NJ 08096
Denise
Currie, Communications Coordinator
Woodbury
City Public School District
Phone: 856.853.0123 x 372
Fax: 856.853.2684
Evergreen
Avenue Elementary School Celebrates
Reading
and Literacy with Unveiling of Mosaic
Woodbury, New Jersey – May 9, 2013. After six
months of work, the highly anticipated mosaic at Evergreen Avenue Elementary
School will be unveiled on May 23 at 10 a.m. (Rain date: May 28). Open to the
public, the unveiling ceremony will provide opportunities to view the mosaic
and speak with the artists and some of the many contributors.
The
mosaic, which takes up a full wall on the outside of the school facing Evergreen
Avenue, was designed by Jennie Shanker and Emily Squires, two highly respected,
talented artists from Philadelphia. After meeting with school administrators,
donors, faculty, and students, Shanker and Squires created a mosaic design with
a reading and literacy theme. Three student workshops were held to create the hundreds
of handmade tiles needed to bring the mosaic to life.
But
tiles were not the only items needed to make the mosaic a reality. First, funds
were procured from several generous grants including those from the Gloucester
County Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Gloucester County Board of
Chosen Freeholders via a grant from the NJ Juvenile Justice Commission. The
Gloucester County Youth Services Commission was the grant administrator and
recommended this project to the Freeholders. In addition, additional funds were
donated from school neighbor, Related Management – Woodlake/Lakeside
Apartments.
Besides
funding partners, many local organizations donated either their time or
supplies to the mosaic project. These include the Gloucester County Parks and
Recreation Department, Ledden-Palimeno, Restorative Justice Commission, Home
Depot in Mantua, South Jersey Glass, and Woodbury Garden Club.
More
than just artwork, the mosaic has turned a blank brick wall into a beautiful,
eye-catching display with a message to all who view it.
“We wanted a permanent piece of artwork on the
front of our school that would inspire and communicate the importance and power
of reading,” Principal Jason Vivadelli explained. “Our two artists – Jennie and
Emily – were able to incorporate that vision and those of students, parents,
and community members – into a beautifully complex, yet refined, mosaic. It has
been such a joy to see the smiles on our students’ faces as they find their
tile on the wall. They have created a legacy that will remain here at
Evergreen long after they leave.”
In a joint statement from the artists, Shanker
and Squires indicated that “this project has felt so special from the start. From
our conversations with teachers, students, parents and neighbors, to the
outpouring of support from volunteers and businesses, this mural has truly been
the work of an engaged community. What a pleasure to collaborate with a school
whose motto is ‘Keep Love Present’— we have enjoyed every day of this work. We
are proud of the mosaic, and grateful to have had the opportunity to be engaged
with Woodbury and Evergreen Avenue Elementary School.
“The workshops with the students were
essential to the creation of this mural. In talking with community members we
learned that people who grow up here feel strongly connected to Woodbury. We love
the fact that the students’ work will be part of this building permanently, and
they will be able to revisit it throughout their lives and share it with their
families.”
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