It Must Go: Mr Woodhead’s Student-Made Mural

By: Maggie Odar

“I hate it. I want it gone.” says Mr. Woodhead whenever someone praises the mosaic artwork hung in his classroom. Composed of about 30 12” x 12” canvases lined up together, the work has been there since the late ‘90s. According to Woodhead, each student was given a fraction of the scene on Columbia Pike and was told to replicate it using any art medium. You can observe places in which some students chose to use colored pencil, while others opted for paint. But regardless of each student’s artistic ability, the combination of each canvas next to each other is entrancing. Current ACC Caroline Schwebach remarks that the work is “so cool to look at,” and that “the details and difference in color show the varied interpretations of the picture.” What many think is so amusing about the piece is that they don’t line up perfectly, but it’s still clear as to what the picture is.

It’s not that the art is unattractive or not a good fit for the room, it’s just that Mr. Woodhead is seeking change for the room that he’s been in for so long. With this, it’s important that we recognize the longstanding, beautiful parts of ACC, while also welcoming change to honor the teachers who have been here through it all. 

So, what do you think? Is it best to honor tradition in the oldest parts of ACC or bring change to our community?