Grater Woods Mural Unveiling at the Merrimack Middle School

To see far is one thing, going there is another.

– Constantin Brancusi

Audra Saunders, the art teacher at the Merrimack Middle School, used that quote to describe the complicated and time consuming process of going from a blank school hallway to a giant mural depicting the wildlife found in the Grater Woods trail system located just outside the school.

On May 22, Saunders and Christine Nawrocki, a science teacher at the middle school, proudly unveiled the “Grater Woods Mural” to the general community. The mural was begun in 2008 and was just completed this May.

The process involved researching the animals, looking at pictures, designing how the creatures would be depicted (which included artistic perspective) and in the case of Saunders, even taking a bit of time off to give birth to her second son.

The mural covers different times during the day (from full day light to sunset) and as you move down the hall, moves you from a lake (the view is from under the water) to a forest setting. It even includes the Grater Moose mascot and two children (“Wildlife that should be included,” said Saunders.)

Running the full length of the hall, the mural depicts much of the local flora and fauna that can be found just outside our front doors in our New Hampshire woods and lakes. Each animal, fish, insect and plant is identified with the hopes that the students will then use that information to go out to the trail system in the Grater Woods and perhaps find and identify the wildlife themselves.

The kids and teachers did a terrific job. It’s beautiful, educational, and you can’t help but smile as you walk the mural’s length.