At Dr. Jorge Alvarez High School…

Students in Sarah Cappelli's art classes worked daily during the winter/spring semester of 2013 to create a 5' x 12' ceramic timeline mural that delved into the history of the site of their school, which was built in 2007 on land once occupied by the Gorham Silver Manufacturing Company. UPP founder Holly Ewald brought in research materials to teach the students about the history of the site from pre-colonial times to the present day. Sam Hough, a silver historian, showed the students a 1927 film about Gorham Silver to provide further context for the project.

Deb DeMarco, a ceramic artist, met with the students twice a week to teach them how to prepare clay for making tiles and large slabs. Students learned the clay techniques of etching, relief building, impression making, carving, and glazing. In addition to learning about the past, they envisioned future designs for the site—with ball fields for the school, a public park, rain gardens replacing asphalt, and windmills for power.