Mosaic Will Bring a Sense of Community to Ashland Ridge in Ankeny

Students at in Ankeny aren’t creating your average art project.

Instead, the fourth- and fifth-grade students — with a little help from their art teacher, Allison Krook, and professional artist Concetta Morales — are getting ready to complete a work of art that will be enjoyed by the Ashland Ridge community for years to come.

Since last week, the students have been working on a tile mosaic that ultimately will be turned into a large mural for Ashland Ridge. Some of the students are loving every minute of it.

“This project is about what it’s like to be (at Ashland Ridge),” said fourth-grader Evan Sanders. “We’ve never done anything like this before; it’s been so much fun.”

The mosaic got its start last spring when Krook was awarded the Channel 5 “One Classroom at a Time” grant.

Krook was able to gain additional money from an Iowa Arts Council grant, the Ankeny Foundation and the Ashland Ridge Parent-Teacher Organization. She said she wanted to give her students an artistic experience they would remember.

“I worked on a project with Concetta when I was in seventh grade,” Krook said. “I wanted to do something with her because the experience was so meaningful for me.”

Morales, who lives in Des Moines, has been an artist-in-residence in schools for more than 25 years. This is her first time in an Ankeny school, she said.

“It’s a real honor for me to work with a past student,” Morales said.

Last week, Krook, Morales and students in all grades came up with a design for the mural. Fourth- and fifth-graders then rolled up their sleeves and started nipping, sorting and finishing tiles. At the end of this week, students will start gluing, grouting and polishing the project to a perfect finish.

Each student could participate in some way, Morales said.

“That way they all can take ownership in a part of this process,” Morales said. “The overall goal of this is for them to work together on something and see the end result for many years to come.”

The theme of the mosaic mural centers around community, Krook said, something taught in almost every part of the school’s curriculum.

Morales called the mural a “legacy piece.”

“This is something the kids will bring their parents in to see,” Morales said.

The mural will be permanently placed somewhere near the front entrance of the school, Krook said, adding she feels it will be a welcome addition to such a new school.

“It’ll be very welcoming and help build the sense of community in this school,” she said. “I think it really will bring us together and help boost teacher and student morale.”

Alyssa Donnelly, a fourth-grader at Ashland Ridge, said she, too, enjoyed every part of helping construct the mosaic.

“(It taught us) good teamwork,” she said.

Morales said she’s enjoyed working with Ashland Ridge students.

“I’ve seen how much they value their community,” she said. “They’ve been so welcoming and excited, which makes my job here a lot easier.”