Art imitates Nature and Science… or at least it does for Tim Neddles’ drawing class students at Smithtown High School East. The aspiring artists have collaborated with the science department and the National Art Honor Society to design a mural for the Wyland National ‘Water is Life’ Mural and Art Challenge. This years theme, “Our Coasts and Climate” asked participants to create a mural that depicts how water shapes our lives and the world. The student mural, entitled “Protecting Our Oceans” portrays wildlife, marine life, land, sea and the dependence of man on the environment.
The Wyland Foundation and its partners provided 100 schools with educational materials and 50-square-foot canvas to create their murals. The annual contest is designed to celebrate the worlds oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands while learning about current climate conditions and issues. The nationwide art challenge stimulates teamwork, while teaching students about the economic, cultural and aesthetic value of the world’s ocean resources.
The mural “Protecting Our Oceans” features dolphins, the U.S. eastern coast with local marine life and landmarks such as Stony Brook University’s R/V Seawolf research vessel in Port Jefferson over an illuminated sky. Winners for the Wyland National ‘Water is Life’ Mural and Art Challenge will be announced in late January.