Lower Manhattan Public School Unveils Mosaic Art Installation

NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2012 -- Operation Design, a 501c3 not-for-profit organization which creates art and design mentorship programs, today officially unveiled the "Four Seasons Mural," a large-scale ceramic tile installation imagined, designed and executed by nearly 600 students at NYC's PS/IS 276 in Battery Park City. Funded by Brookfield Office Properties and made possible by Operation Design, the inspired mural is the result of nearly six months of student preparation, in-class curriculum and after school workshops and will be on permanent display in the lobby of PS/IS 276.

Work on the mural began in January 2012 and continued through August, entailing more than 5,000 hours including tutelage on how to work with ceramic material, tile glazing, pointillism, blueprints, construction, working with a kiln and overall artistic collaboration upon completion.

The Operation Design team enlisted a group of professional ceramic artists, architects and graphic designers to partner with the PS/IS 276 students, faculty and 40 volunteers to create the spectacular Four Seasons Mural, a 20' x 7' cityscape incorporating Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Each PS 276 student painted at least one individual tile included in the intricate, 640-tile mural.

"At a time when budget cuts are affecting public schools, it's often the arts that are the first to feel a negative impact," said Operation Design President Ilene Shaw. "The PS/IS students were inspired by the four seasons, as artists have been throughout time. Harnessing their energy and creativity into the Four Seasons Mural has been an extraordinary experience."

The official unveiling ceremony took place this morning at PS/IS 276.

About Operation Design
Operation Design, a not-for-profit organization, partners professional architects, designers and artists with New York City public school students to develop challenging creative programs. These mentorships result in the creation of innovative and motivational learning spaces within the schools as well as empowering professional experiences for the students.