What started as individual pieces of student artwork inside a Pattison Elementary classroom has come together to form something much larger, a mural that now represents both a school community and a broader celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Selected for display in the Clermont County Student Art Show at UC Clermont College Art Gallery, the piece features Milford’s signature eagle and reflects something deeper than school pride. Built from hundreds of individual contributions, the artwork incorporates found objects and elements including beads, marbles, pom-poms, puzzle pieces and more to create a stunning mural of Milford’s iconic eagle mascot.
Fourth-grade student Sunnah S. said the mural not only mirrors the collaborative spirit at the foundation of the nation, but also the spirit of Pattison.
“It represents our school, and everybody who put a piece on it is part of our school,” said Sunnah S. “It shows that our school is a great school, and that we can do a lot of stuff.”
Each piece tells its own story, but together they create something entirely new, using scraps from previous student artwork.
Students worked in small groups, carefully placing each piece to fit into a larger vision. While every student had the opportunity to contribute, the mural required patience, planning and a steady hand to bring it all together.
“Everybody’s respectful, helpful, kind and caring,” said fourth-grade student Charlotte H. “When a teacher needs help, at least five people come to help them, so our eagle shows that kindness.”
For art teacher Mary Cork, the recognition is meaningful, but the message behind the work matters most.
After traveling the world and experiencing art in renowned creative hubs such as Italy and Greece, Cork developed a vision for projects that bring people together through shared creation. She saw how collage and mosaic work could create a powerful visual impact, transforming even discarded scraps into something entirely unique and beautiful.
“It makes a powerful statement that we’re all in this together,” she said.
The mural will return to Pattison following the exhibit, where it will serve as a lasting reminder of what can happen when a school community comes together with a shared purpose.
Milford’s presence in the exhibit extends beyond Pattison. Artwork from across the district is featured, including student artwork from teachers, Adrian Hawk and Christopher Luessen at Milford High School, Tracy Huggins at Milford Middle School, and Donna Kroeger at McCormick Elementary.
The Clermont County Student Art Show is free and open to the public and will be on display beginning May 4. More information can be found here: https://www.ucclermont.edu/about/community/arts/art-gallery.html
