MARYLAND MOMENTS
Spirited Art on an Unlikely Canvas
Northwestern High School senior Salem Daniel brings Wildcat pride to the snowplow mural competition.
(Mark Gail - The Washington Post)
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It's not the World Series or the Super Bowl, but finishing first in the county's snowplow mural-painting contest does come with bragging rights. And members of Northwestern High School's National Arts Honor Society are hoping for something to brag about when their work is judged next Friday.
Eight middle and high schools are competing in the third annual contest organized by the Prince George's County public schools maintenance department.
At Northwestern, the school's art department used the contest as a teaching tool, showing students how their creative ideas translate into design concepts. Math skills helped to determine how the painting would fill the space on the curved, 10-by-3-foot snowplow blade.
The honor society took second place two years ago with a design of the school's Wildcat mascot but skipped last year's contest. The group is back in action this year, led by senior Salem Daniel.
This year's design is by junior Kimberly Cole. It features a ferocious-looking Wildcat with two large paw prints in navy blue and white.
On a cool, breezy day last week, members of the group were busy painting the design on a blade. Their deadline was Tuesday.
The painters knelt on the damp ground, waiting for a chance to claim a stool when someone moved to get more paint, clean a brush or take a break.
"The students are excited about the project and having their work on display, as well as lots of pride in their school and the Wildcat mascot," said Roxane France-Woods, the school's art department chairman.
Seven maintenance department employees, including secretaries and a management analyst, will pick a winner next Friday in Upper Marlboro. The judges will be looking for a positive message, school spirit, color coordination and imagination, all displayed on a snowplow's blade.
The eight decorated blades will join the plain ones in clearing the driveways and parking lots of the system's 205 schools, centers and offices this winter.
E-mail suggestions for Maryland moments topics to gailm@washpost.com.
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