Local News
Related Photos
-
Rick Barbero
Tools
WORK OF ART
Bradley Elementary School teacher finishes wall mural
Bradley Elementary School art teacher Julie Midkiff spent nearly two years working on a floor-to-ceiling art mural in the school’s entryway.
Between 5 and 10 p.m. on any given day, Midkiff could be found standing on a ladder painting assorted acrylic colors onto the austere cinder block wall.
“We wanted something that was bright and colorful and cheerful that the kids could learn from,” she said.
Midkiff asked each of her peers to provide one “content” idea they were teaching their students for the mural.
“We wanted it to be all inclusive. Everybody’s content in one image,” she said.
Midkiff included a dinosaur skull, state symbols of West Virginia, geometric forms, above-ground, underground and outer space objects on the wall.
“We wanted to make sure we covered just about everything, showing that we learn things from the beginning of time throughout modern times,” she said.
One of the most unusual segments of the mural is in the top right-hand corner.
Midkiff included a detailed, colorful drawing of the White House, Washington Monument and Abraham Lincoln — which she says were the hardest to bring to life.
“The hardest part was painting Abraham Lincoln. The actual monument does look a little different, and the Capitol was difficult as well,” she said critiquing her own work.
Midkiff says she’s “pleased” with the final product.
“If I wasn’t happy with an area, I would repaint it,” she said. “I spent a lot of time just trying to figure out how I could paint the mural to where the wall texture would disappear through a distance.”
Principal Sandra Sheatsley says she’s highly impressed with Midkiff’s wall painting.
“She joined everything together. She’s just amazing,” Sheatsley said.
“Bradley is a school where you walk in and there’s a feeling of home. We want that expressed to anyone walking in the school.
“We want them to know this is a school full of heart, a school that is here for the children. Mrs. Midkiff is an exemplary teacher, and she makes every child feel just the way that (mural) looks.”
Unlike most artists, Midkiff chose not to sign her finished product.
“The reason I don’t want to do that is because I want the focus to be on the content,” she said.
“I don’t want the focus being on who made it.”
The school will dedicate the mural from 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 17.
Parents and students are welcome.
— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com
- Local News
-
- Additional warrants issued in home invasion
-
Rahall mulls health care vote
With a decision looming Sunday, U.S. Reps. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., and Rick Boucher, D-Va., said they both are still undecided on the $940 billion health care overhaul bill.
-
Local woman, doctor weigh in on the need for health care
It was a mere month ago that Deborah Cox was working as a nurse in fairly good health.
Today, the 51-year-old says her life is upside down because of a leukemia diagno - What's Happening — March 20, 2010
-
Big Sandy looking for charities, nonprofits
All Big Sandy locations will donate to charities that sign up beforehand if customers mention that charity when making a purchase of $499 or more on March 25.
-
SCHOOL CLOSINGS and DELAYS
Click HERE to go to the West Virginia Department of Education with up-to-date school closings and delays by county.
-
Improvements under way to make Bluestone Dam safer
Improvements and repairs planned at Bluestone Dam over the next 10 years will make the structure safer, but new operating procedures could lead to increased flooding in some areas downstream from the dam, officials said Thursday at a public meeting in Hinton.
-
DOH to relocate cemeteries for expressway
West Virginia Division of Highways officials will begin relocating cemeteries next week to make room for the next phase of the Coalfields Expressway.
-
GVEDC board gets training
Jeff Finkle, president and CEO of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), spent several hours with local development officials Thursday, giving pointers and leading a discussion on economic strategies.
-
Mix-up leads to W.Va. couple on wrong ballot
Stan and Janet Norman are running for office whether they like it or not.
- More Local News Headlines
