When students at Roberts Middle School return to class in the Fall they will be greeted by a new mural created by this year’s 8th grade Advanced Art class. Featuring a tiger crossing a bridge over open arms surrounding a waterfall, the entire class, including students working remotely and in the building, brainstormed ideas for which they would later collaborate to assemble everybody’s ideas. According to the class, the final product focuses on “symbolism embracing the character of the 8th grade class, Roberts Middle School student body, and the community of Cuyahoga Falls.”
Inspired by the late author and illustrator Eric Carle, famous for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, as well as many other popular children’s picture books, the class created a grouping of similarly-styled objects for this storytelling collage from approximately one hundred 12” x 18” custom-cut acrylic painted papers which were then torn and cut into smaller shapes that fit the designated areas of the mural.
In the story presented, according to the Advanced Arts class, the waterfall represents Cuyahoga Falls, with running water embracing serenity and change. Meanwhile, a willow tree and rainbow show hope, a sense of belonging, and embracing all walks of like. As a tiger– clearly modeled after Carle’s illustration in “Have You Seen My Cat”– crosses an avidly dimensional bridge of unity atop multi-colored hands, portraying the strength of Black Tiger pride and the inclusivity of Roberts Middle School and the community. Caterpillars and butterflies embrace the space, personifying changes students go through in Middle School. “A 6th grader is like a caterpillar who transforms into a butterfly. As you move through middle school to 8th grade, you prepare to take off to new adventures in high school and beyond,” explains the class.
Having supported the arts in schools during his life, Carle created the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to help supplement what students lose when budgets get cut. In a 2002 interview with Reading Rockets, he stated “I personally very much believe in art and beauty and design. And it’s just unthinkable for me that anyone would be brought up without art and ballet and poetry and books.” He would go on to say of A Very Hungry Caterpillar, “I think it is a book of hope. Children need hope. You, little insignificant caterpillar, can grow up into a beautiful butterfly and fly into the world with your talent.” The students artists at Roberts Middle School hope that this mural leaves a similar legacy to the community and future students as it hangs for years to come.
