5th Grade Mystery Painting Reveal

Every year, our 5th-grade class participates in a mystery painting coordinated by Mrs. Shank, our art teacher. In conjunction with the 5th-grade study of American History, Mrs. Shank chooses an American artist and painting and works through extensive preparations. Students are then invited to paint 4″ x 4″ wooden squares without knowing which painting they are collectively reproducing. As the students assemble the pieces in front of the entire school community, the painting is revealed. This is a beautiful illustration for our students to see how they are part of God’s great design through their own unique contributions.

Just last week, our entire school gathered for the placement of the tiles and reveal of this year’s painting entitled “Golden Rule” by Norman Rockwell. Rockwell originally painted this in 1961 with oil on canvas, as a cover illustration for the Saturday Evening Post. It was presented to the United Nations in 1985 by former First Lady Nancy Reagan, and it now hangs in the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. A group of people of different religions, races, and ethnicity served as the backdrop for the inscription “Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You.” Rockwell was a compassionate and liberal man, and this simple phrase reflected his philosophy.

The painting below is comprised of 156 squares with 50 different paint colors used!