Art, technology mix in mural

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Elementary school students and teachers at the Joseph J. Catena School, Burlington Road, had the opportunity to learn about a worldwide project known as the Signature Project during an assembly at the school.

Patrick Dunning, an artist from Dublin, Ireland, visited the school on Oct. 5 to discuss the multifaceted project that began in 1992.

According to a press release from the school district, the Signature Project is a mural consisting of 171 square panels each holding about 7,000 signatures to create a picture. When completed, it will contain more than one million signatures from people all around the world.

The finished mural will measure 76 feet by 36 feet compiled of layered images, one of which is composed entirely of the individual signatures, while others can be revealed by using X-rays, magnetic fields or ultraviolet lights.

Dunning discussed the different layers of the mural, the people who have contributed their signatures and the process of blending art and technology to complete the project.

The presentation at the Catena school brought the mural to life with Dunning weaving stories and images to evoke his own Irish heritage as well as the diversity of world cultures.

"The painting is constantly changing and evolving as people contribute their own signature to the larger art work, adding perspectives and ideas which make the world so wonderful, beyond imagination," Dunning said.

The assembly was brought to the students and teachers at the Catena school by the school PTO.

Sue Cavallaro, PTO president, said she saw the show in Rumson and wanted to bring it to the children at the Catena school.

"It was like nothing we have ever seen before," she said. "It was rich with diversity, colorful and artistic beauty. It also enabled us to be part of history by contributing signatures," she added.

At the end of the presentation teachers signed a panel of the mural to be part of the finished project which is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Catena School Principal Neal Dickstein said the presentation was an interesting way to teach children about technology and art while infusing information about different cultures.

"The children greatly enjoyed it," he said.