THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 6, 1994 TAG: 9406060060
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940606 LENGTH: BARCO
Tucked away in science teacher Barry Nelms' marine biology classroom is a 500-square-foot mural of sea life devised by oceanography students and produced by high school artists.
{REST} ``I think it's a little bit more than what was anticipated originally,'' said art teacher Jimi Sutton as he supervised students' work last week.
The wall painting is about 10 feet high and 50 feet long and depicts whales, dolphins, fish, coral and other sea creatures rolled, brushed, stenciled or sponged in place with acrylics by Sutton and seven of his pupils.
Students work from textbooks to draw figures on top of a aqua-and-black shaded backdrop. Science lectures provided background ``music'' as they painted during the past two weeks.
``A lot of people ask why are we doing it,'' said junior Larry Langner, 18, while he created a rock crab. ``Most of the people I talk to like it.''
School officials like the publicity ``The Wall'' is generating. Nelms said he's received several media inquiries, including one from the CBS network in Philadelphia.
And students are enjoying the exposure to each other.
``It's kind of hard to pay attention in class while they're painting,'' said junior Julie Davenport, 17, who studies both oceanography and art.
``You kind of both get to learn about the other's world,'' added classmate Beth Sokoloski, 16, who is a sophomore.
The harmonious relationship is something that both staff and students wish to promote. In recent months Currituck County High School had been surrounded by racial tension prompted by anti-African American epithets on bathroom walls.
Other acts of vandalism and off-campus interracial fights ensued at the 18-year-old high school, designed for 600 students and currently housing 820.
But things have been calm this spring. The scenery in the ocean mural and the cooperative spirit in which it is being created reflect that tranquillity.
``Maybe people will see that we're working together and not against each other,'' Davenport said.
``It sounds corny, but it's true,'' said Heather Palmer, 17. ``It's paying off in a lot of ways. We all are getting along.''
The idea for a large-scale wall portrait came from a field trip to Old Dominion University's oceanography department. After viewing the Wyland whale mural in downtown Norfolk, Nelms' students decided to create their own masterpiece.
There was, however, one serious problem: None of the science class students could draw really well.
That's when Sutton, who has taught art for 24 years and studied under some of the nation's best painters, stepped in.
``He came in and blew us away with the airbrush,'' Sokoloski said.
A portion of the initial effort remains at the classroom entranceway. It features one-dimensional orcas and an inspirational saying from an African ecologist.
The work was influenced by the hit movie, ``Free Willy,'' which featured a killer whale. ``It now looks like the devil,'' Nelms said.
``But Mr. Sutton said he can fix this, he's that good,'' he added.
Sutton has the same confidence in his students' work.
``I've got some very, very talented students,'' he said.
James Hodges, 17, said the mural is more detailed than anyone expected. The sophomore, drawing starfish and mussels, said he hopes the mural will impress future students.
``But I doubt it'll be here,'' he added.
A new $12.3 million high school is scheduled to open in the fall of 1996. The current high school will become the county's junior high school.
The ocean mural, however, will follow high school students to the new location.
``We certainly don't intend for it to be discarded,'' Sutton said.
by CNB