Copyright Staten Island Advance
IN CLASS: This feature is part of an ongoing education column highlighting the various activities that engage school communities. Want this before everyone else? Subscribe to our Beyond the Classroom newsletter. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An expansive, mixed-media mural has been installed at a new Staten Island school campus. The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the city School Construction Authority, has announced a new artwork commission — “Ode to the Wild,” by artist Jessica Maffia. The artwork is a unique, permanent installation created specifically for The Janice Blanchard Community Campus in Travis, which is home to PS/I.S. 26 and Staten Island Rise Academy. The new building opened to students for the first time in September. In line with Public Art for Public School’s mission, “Ode to the Wild” seeks to create welcoming, inspiring experiences for students, families, faculty, and community members. The mural celebrates the history and ecology of Main Creek, a vital natural habitat that lies to the east of the school. To create the artwork, Maffia researched “Days Afield on Staten Island,” a 1892 memoir by naturalist and entomologist William T. Davis, the namesake of the nearby wildlife refuge that is home to Main Creek. “’Ode to the Wild’ is a shining example of how art can connect students to the world around them,” said President and CEO of the NYC School Construction Authority Nina Kubota. “Jessica Maffia’s breathtaking use of upcycled materials not only celebrates Staten Island’s natural treasures but also inspires our students to see the beauty, history, and responsibility within their own school and communities. At SCA, we are proud to create spaces where learning and creativity go hand in hand, fostering curiosity and care for the environment.” In the mural, Main Creek stretches across panels made of birch wood, and dotting the composition are round portholes of varying sizes, which contain colorful collages composed of repurposed, patterned fabrics. “Noticing can lead to wonder, wonder can lead to care, care can lead to protection,” said Maffia. “We are all part of the same ecosystem. May we work together to care for and protect our more-than-human kin.” The artwork was commissioned by the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program, in collaboration with the School Construction Authority’s Public Art for Public Schools, and the city Department of Education. It joins more than 2,000 artworks in public schools. “With ‘Ode to the Wild,’ Jessica Maffia has created a living tribute to Staten Island’s natural beauty,” said NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Through our Percent for Art program, we’re proud to bring artwork into schools that sparks imagination and deepens our connection to the world around us. By using reclaimed and repurposed materials, this piece shows how creativity and environmental care go hand in hand, reminding us that every student is a steward of our city’s future.” The artwork was fabricated and installed by LEERFORM. Additional expertise was provided by project architects Mitchell Giurgola Architects, in conjunction with the School Construction Authority’s Architecture and Engineering team. Send us your stories Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com.
