CRESTVIEW — Antioch Elementary School students regularly get arts program exposure with Okaloosa Volunteer Art Lessons.
This year, OVAL volunteers — including Crestview residents Amber Foreman, Beth Butler, Sara Brown, and Andrea Blum, who have children attending Antioch — teach an art project once a month with a short lesson on a local artist, and children interpret the artist's work.
When coming up with the idea for April, one of the volunteers suggested that having an Antioch "Whaling Wall" would be cool, referring to a Destin mural created by artist Robert Wyland. He has created murals all over the world that focus on the ocean and its inhabitants.
Foreman said, "We're honoring Robert Wyland and supporting him through the Wyland Walls project." She said being so close to the ocean, it is something Northwest Florida students can especially relate to, "and showing our commitment to the ocean and how important it is."
She said, "Each grade, kindergarten through fifth, covers different animals and a different media, whether it's watercolors or painting or using chalk, all different ways are done.
Another volunteer, Jamie Mitchell, said, "We are waiting for a couple more grade levels to complete this, but the art pieces are covering the hallways … and this is a huge difference from the white walls the students are used to seeing."
When asked what her favorite piece is so far, Foreman said, "I can't honestly say theree's a favorite. Every class has done a phenomenal job in that (topic) they're covering.
"This is my favorite month, but they're all so unique and give the perspective of each child. They have a great imagination and you can see it on our walls … the love and personality of almost 900 students!"
This is the first time students have created murals in the OVAL program, and their work will be a feature of the school's annual art show.
Marge Langley, of the school's Media Center, said the mural decorations go all the way down the corridors.
"The children are drawing different sea animals, so it's like you're in the ocean," Langley said.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Wyland, marine animals inspire Antioch students' art