Ученики средней школы West в Альбертвилле встречают новый учебный год с яркой мозаикой у главного входа

St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West students were greeted by a new main entrance when they started the school year on Sept. 1. Colorful mosaic day and night scenes depicting nature now decorate two pillars at the front entrance of the school. The artwork, which was installed in June, is titled “Knights of Crow River” after STMA’s mascot and depicts fish, loons, deer, cattails and a knight holding a shield. The project was started by Middle School West Art Teacher April Erickson who was inspired after attending a public art class. Erickson applied for and received a Central Minnesota Arts Board public arts grant to make the project happen. From there, Erickson’s students helped brainstorm ideas for a mosaic installation and came up with the nature theme during the 2024-25 school year. Next, students cut glass pieces and glued them down. Overall, Erickson estimated that over 100 students from grades five through eight worked on the project, she told Crow River News in April. Erickson commemorated the installation of the mosaic with a 34-minute YouTube video depicting the timeline of the art installation with photos, videos and student interviews. Community members can view the mosaic at the main entrance of Middle School West at 11343 50th Street NE, Albertville.