The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 29, 2009

WORK OF ART

Bradley Elementary School teacher finishes wall mural

By Jackie Ayres

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

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