Viewfinder: Delta Kelly Tile Mural Celebrates Michigan's Wetlands

When opened in 2002, students and staff found a creative and meaningful way to help the first class of students leave their mark on the school.

Almost a decade later, the school hopes to soon hang a plaque next to the mural bearing Delta Kelly's name and photograph as well as information about the mural.

"I came up with the idea for our mural as a tribute to our school's namesake, Delta Kelly," wrote art teacher Edie Wolk in a recent letter about the mural. The late Delta Kelly taught at Baldwin Elementary School for many years, co-founded the Oakland Township Historical Society, helped preserve area wetlands and was heavily involved in many local civic organizations.

"She was a maverick in her search and research of the Rochester wetlands and its inhabitants," Wolk wrote.

The tiles – more than 1,000 of them altogether – are all themed by grade and all have to do with Michigan wetlands, including plants, animals and insects.

"Kindergarteners created stars, moons, crawling insects and animals in the sand level of the mural," wrote Wolk. "First graders created the butterflies; second graders created the Michigan leaves of wetland trees, and third graders created the animals found in the wetlands.

"Fourth graders created tiles of the Michigan birds, and fifth graders and staff painted Michigan wildflowers that surround the mural."

Wolk designed the inset tile painting, which was completed with help from staff, adding, "You will even see a few tiles created by Delta Kelly's family members."

The project took two and a half years to complete and used more than 1,000 individual tiles.

"This project brought to the forefront not only our knowledge and respect for the work of our namesake," Wolk wrote, "but it was also a community project that taught us about our natural environments and the importance of protecting such a beautiful landscape."