Students, Artist Bring New Glow to Albany Middle School

If Albany Middle School seems to be beaming upon the world with a brightly colored new face now, you can thank this past year's sixth graders and community artist Carol Newborg.

The school's most prominent front wall – formerly a plain, off-white slab of stucco near the school sign – virtually glows with nearly 300 tiles hand-painted by students and featuring creatures that fly. Butterflies flit among dragons, while mythic thunderbirds peer at humble beetles.

The permanently-affixed tiles are linked not only by their subject -- animals of the air against a blue-sky -- but also by their design. Students were asked to reflect various world cultures, a major theme sixth graders study. One tile of a butterfly, for example, echoes a traditional Japanese crest. A roadrunner is meant to be in the style of Southwest Native American pottery.

"I like the little touches," Newborg said as she looked over the tiles July 2. "See the smiley face here," she said, pointing to the cheerful expression of the Japanese-crest butterfly. 

You have to get close to see details. Each tile in the 20-foot-long mural measures only 4 1/4 inches square.

An Albany schools parent, Newborg is also a professional visual artist who works in a variety of media and whose art has appeared in many museums and other venues, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the de Young and the Seattle Art Museum. This is her second tile project for the middle school. Last year, she oversaw another sixth-grade project, tiles displayed in the school's inner courtyard.

The new tiles are located just above the school's native-plant garden, hence the mural's name, "Above the Garden." The location also inspired the idea for the tiles to feature creatures that might be found in the air above a garden. With the plants currently in bloom and the wall freshly adorned with the blooms of children's imaginations, the front of the middle school is more colorful than ever before.

All sixth graders participated in the project, which was designed not only to heighten their appreciation of world cultures but also to provide experience in creative expression.

"When I see them making the tiles, it's the greatest thing," Newborg said. "They're really proud of what they do."

As she spoke, a young man strolling by in a black baseball cap worn backward called out, "Nice job!"

Ann Cristiani, a nearby neighbor walking by on her way to El Cerrito Plaza, said, "It's beautiful. It makes a difference. It's better than just a boring wall."

Newborg completed the installation June 25, after spending two weeks meticulously placing each tile in an arrangement according to her aesthetic. An observer may notice, for example, that one diamond-shaped grouping of tiles rises above the top line of the mural, reflecting the peaked roof-line of the building.

Funding was provided mainly by the middle school PTA, with some support also from the Albany Education Foundation. Many materials were donated by local merchants.

"The PTA particularly liked the fact that every sixth grade student had the opportunity to make a tile," said Karen Larson, PTA president. "Since the tiles were inspired by the students' studies of world cultures, this project directly supported the teachers and what they were working on in the classroom." Larson also praised Newborg's ability to use her professional talent to support the curriculum "in a creative and engaging way."

"Her dedication to showcasing the students' work and improving the overall feel of the school is a real gift to AMS (the middle school)," Larson added.

School Principal Robin Davis also was enthusiastic: "The new tile project Carol Newborg oversaw is amazing!"

Davis stressed the contribution of former PTA President Amy St. George, who led the garden-planting program more than a year and a half ago. Davis noted that the plants were donated by Flowerland on Solano Avenue, whose owner, Katy Zapata, was a former student of Davis' and is now a mother of Albany students.

Among those contributing materials for the project were the Tileshop and Leslie Ceramics, both in North Berkeley near the Albany border, Newborg said.

As Newborg completed her project, another tile installation was being placed around the base of the flagpole in front of the school. That project was part of teacher Janice Cinqugrano's eighth grade art class.

The permanent display of such art strengthens the students' bond with the school and community, Newborg said.

"It's a really healthy way to identify with the school and feel they belong here," she said. "They can bring their kids and grandkids here and say, 'I did that.' "