Fifth grade students at Saint John School in Wellesley recently created a mural inspired by Leonardo DaVinci’s “Last Supper” in the school’s first ever collaborative art project. Art teacher Robin Kilduff developed the framework for the 5′ x 10′ mural, which fifth grade students then worked within to bring the images to life. Mrs. Kilduff remarked, “Students were offered any medium, and they chose oil crayons to color each smaller section.” The students created a sense of continuity in their design of the piece by using the same colors for each smaller mural block. Cooperation and teamwork were as important to the result as the artistic detail of the design. Student Juliette Connors explained, “I liked how everyone had to work together to match pieces.” Once students finished assembling the mural, the majestic masterpiece became the centerpiece for St. John School’s annual Art Show. The school community was thrilled with the dramatic artwork, and the School Council framed the work to preserve it for years to come.
Nancy Glaeser, School Council President, noted that images of our Lord’s Last Supper with his Apostles are a traditional fixture of many Catholic family dining rooms, along with monastery and school refectories. “Our students now gather for meals alongside this beautiful visual reminder of our community’s mission and rich traditions,” said Mrs. Glaeser. The fifth grade’s impressive mural is on display in Philbin Hall, Saint John School’s common area. School principal Robert Arsenault noted that a fifth grade class art project is an annual artistic endeavor at Saint John’s. “We eagerly await the unveiling of the next project in the spring,” said Mr. Arsenault. Fifth graders Luke Orup and Catherine Butera reached the same conclusion after working collaboratively on the mural: “This was my favorite art project of the year.”
