Cream City Wisconsin Chapter, The Links, inc. as a component of their Services to Youth Plan of Action initiative, sponsored the project, Multicultural Mural of Painted Artifacts at Andrew Douglas Community Academy. A representative of Cream City Wisconsin Chapter, The Links, inc., Mrs. Hester Besteda, worked very closely with Ms. Mayfield, principal, Mr. Fishman, assistant principal, Mr. Basak, learning coordinator, Ms Lotz, art teacher, and Ms. Evelyn Patricia Terry, visiting artist, to facilitate the project.

Several students were selected to work with Ms. Terry from March 7 - March 23, 2001. Students were selected because of their drawing and creative abilities. Some of the students dropped out, but most stayed and did a great job. They were required to brainstorm about ethnic groups and the cultural artifacts produced by them. This was followed by trips to the school library to research cultural artifacts as images to draw on masonite boards. Four 4'x4' boards were first primed with Gesso (painted white) to receive the images. The images were drawn on the boards, and a thin acrylic wash of primary colors was applied. The images were painted with an assortment of arbitrary colors mixed by Ms Terry, as needed. The Andrew Douglas Academy artists did a tremendous job of brainstorming, researching, drawing, and painting.

Evelyn Patricia Terry, a Lincoln Center for the Arts resident artist, is Milwaukee based. She is a full time professional artist in practice for about 33 years. Terry's need to research ethnicity (because of the negative information often highlighted in her own African-American heritage, coupled with her interest in art) fueled her involvement with artifacts as a way of explaining culture and a way of looking at what is good in all cultures.

Ms. Terry has learned many basic truths about life, and continues to share them with others to offer "tips" on improving the "quality of life." She instructed the students to read directions carefully, and strive to understand and follow them. Also, she stressed the need to acquire understanding of the concepts of discipline, perseverance, cooperation and humility. Healthcare is also an important need. Healthcare includes taking care of oneself and learning to take care of others by getting enough sleep, eating raw green vegetables and fresh fruit, and drinking plenty of water. Mental health was included, with suggestions on controlling one's thoughts and what one says because thoughts influence how one's life will progress from day to day. One can change the course of one's life by changing thoughts, actions and what one says. From her experiences. "It seems to all come back."

Finally, she discussed that it is important to understand that "art is always in the eye of the beholder." The viewer (teachers, parents, other artists, relatives, friends, and other students) brings either limited or vast exposure to understanding art and creativity and the viewer has likes and dislikes. Some like landscapes and still lifes, while others like abstract or figurative art. We have to try to understand where others are coming from and keep our visions "ours" despite criticism from unknowledgeable or insensitive people who just want to criticize to make one feel bad. When information is offered to you about your work, you must decide if it is something that will make you better or if is of no use to you and must be discarded. To be a successful artist, one must simply practice all the time and not compete with others. We all have our way of doing things. We must strive to do the very best we can and not stop at our first efforts. With practice we all get better. Remember that only undisciplined artists become "starving artists".

Images on the Multicultural Mural of Painted Artifacts

€ Fur Parka, Copper Inuit (Eskimo), Western Arctic

€ Ankh Symbol, Egypt

€ Vest, Spain

€ 14th Century Helmet, German

€ Aboriginal Design, Australia

€ Forged Metal Design, Haiti

€ Tomahawk, Blackfeet Tribe, America

€ Umiak (Eskimo Boat), Canada & Greenland

€ Canopic Jars, Egypt

€ Adinkra Cloth Design, Ghana, Africa

€ Heart, Adinkra Cloth Design, Ghana, Africa

€ El Capataz Mask, Venezuela

€ Military Helmet, Germany

€ Symbols, Native American, America

€ Wrought Iron Design, African American, North Carolina, America

€ Pottery Oven

€ Alligator Design, Mexico

€ Sand Mandala, Tibet

€ Tenebrario (Ceremonial Candle Holder), New Mexico

€ Canoe, Eagle Clan, Northwest Indians, America

€ Sacred Umbrella, Rangoon, Asia

€ Sword and Case, Greece

€ Snake, Pueblo Indian Design, New Mexico

€ Irish

€ Dolphin Symbol, Rome, Italy

€ Dream Catcher, Native American, America

€ Thistle Symbol, Scotland

€ Elephant Symbol, India

€ Claddaugh Weathervane, Ireland

Evelyn Patricia Terry

Lincoln Center for the Arts

414-212-3464