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The view of a work in progress.
by Andrew Derico
The next time you are taking a stroll or driving down Falmouth’s Main Street, you are sure to be greeted with a beautiful scene – honeycombs and bright yellow and white flowers against the backdrop of a clear, blue sky – regardless of the day’s weather. Today, Falmouth’s newest mural elegantly captures this vista.
On Friday, September 24, PCHS Gifted and Talented Educational Services (GATES) students. Caleb Derico, Rylan Rhoton, Lilly Brinkdoepke, Emma Gillespie, Joshua Kells, and Will Harlow, led by teacher and GATES instructor Michelle Lustenburg, began their work on the mural. Gary Hicks of Woodmen Life sponsored the painting of the mural.
From its outset, the project experienced setbacks. The original plans for painting the mural on Monday, September 20, were cancelled due to rain and moved to Friday, September 24.
As is often the case with works of art, the beauty of the mural was not originally visible. “From where we’re standing,” said Caleb Derico, one of the students that contributed to the project, “there’s no way I could tell you this was going to be a portrait of sunflowers and honeycombs. There were just a bunch of crayon scribbles on a blank canvas.”
According to Lustenburg, these crayon scribbles outlined the scene that the mural depicts. Following the crayon outline designed and drawn by Emma Gillespie, one of the high schoolers that worked on the mural, the students used their artistic talents to create a vibrant picture. They worked hard for hours and even sacrificed their school day on homecoming Friday to do so.
Interestingly, the mural reflects a piece of Pendleton County’s history. “Basically, before we became known for wool and sheep, Pendleton County used to be one of the top honey producers in the state,” Gillespie said. Gillespie also noted that the mural helped enliven the previously dull fence it was painted on – a source of complaint for many individuals in the community.
The group expects to add finishing touches to and complete the mural on Wednesday, September 29.
As the age-old adage says, “A picture speaks a thousand words.” But, perhaps, a mural speaks more.