Snohomish invited to help with glass mural
By Cathy Logg
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH — Community members have an opportunity to help make a permanent stained glass and porcelain mural for Snohomish High School.
Art teacher Cathy Tanasse and her students are nearing completion of the first of three panels for the mural, which will be framed and hung in C Building, the school’s newest structure. The mural is patterned after the types of classes taught there: ceramics, mathematics, oceanography and some earth sciences. The first panel, dubbed "Under the Sea," depicts an array of saltwater marine life in vibrant glass hues and porcelain tiles. Two more panels, a landscape to represent the earth sciences and one focussing on the future, have yet to be designed.
"It’s really exciting," Tanasse said.
She initiated the project by writing a $1,500 grant to obtain materials for the 4-foot-by-8-foot panels. The Snohomish Education Foundation approved the grant.
Tanasse consulted with teachers and members of the clay club, who decided to honor the classes offered in the building.
A friend of Tanasse told her that Spectrum Art Glass in Woodinville sometimes gives away leftover glass. In fact, the company donated 700 pounds of "incredibly gorgeous glass," Tanasse said.
The generous donation actually slowed the project a bit, as Tanasse took a little time to gain more experience working with stained glass.
Artist Caitlin Garrett heard about the project and offered to help. She taught Tanasse how to break the glass as well as how to use new tools Garrett was able to purchase at a discount.
"She’s just been great," Tanasse said.
She envisioned involving the community in the project.
"It’s such a big project it needs a lot of people involved," she said.
Tanasse did the drawing that formed the underwater scene and will draw the next two scenes as well. The drawings are enlarged and students label what colors go where.
Tanasse is also looking for a volunteer to weld a frame for the panels.
"This is so big, we need to get it in a frame because it flexes a little when we move it," she said. "It will be very heavy when it’s grouted."
The grouting will be done once the panel is mounted on the wall. Students work on the panel from 2:15 to about 3:30 or 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.
"It’s one of those things where you can drop by for 15 minutes to an hour and not be tied to a long-term commitment," she said. "You’d be amazed how much five or six people can get done in an hour."
Volunteers can help finish the first panel or begin work on the other two, she said.
"I really want to get these done by the end of the school year," Tanasse said.
You can call Herald Writer Cathy Logg at 425-339-3437
or send e-mail to logg@heraldnet.com.
To volunteer your time to work on the mural, call Cathy Tanasse at 360-563-4125.
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