Something's fishy at the Elkridge branch of the Howard County Library -- namely a large, sea-themed mosaic mural that officials installed on the wall of the branch late last week.

The mural, which is called "Undersea Treasures," is the result of a partnership between the library, the Howard County government, the school system and the Howard County Arts Council.

"We're just thrilled to have it up," said Valerie Gross, executive director of the library. " ... The Howard County government saw this as an outstanding opportunity to add public art to this community."

Catonsville artist Mary Deacon Opasik designed and pieced together the mural with the assistance of art students from Elkridge Landing Middle School, where Opasik served as an artist-in-residence during the school year.

The lively, brightly colored mural, which faces Route 1, features undersea critters such as dolphins, a turtle and an octopus.

Opasik and the students constructed it from donated stained glass, pottery pieces, mirrors and everyday objects. For example, the turtle's shell is made of a discarded sink, while the jellyfish are made from plastic punch bowls.

Students made their own mosaic tiles, observed Opasik at work on the project, and asked her questions about the process she used to complete it, said Patti Battaglia, an art teacher at Elkridge Landing.

"It was a big, laborious process," Battaglia said of making the mural, which took about a year to complete and measures 8 feet high and 15 feet wide.

The $4,000 project was funded by a $2,000 grant from the county arts council and a matching $2,000 grant from the county government, said Coleen West, executive director of the arts council.

Art goes beyond schools

Opasik and Battaglia applied for the grant, West said.

She added that the project marks the first time in her memory that a grant to fund an artist-in-residence at a school was used to make a piece of art for a public, community setting. Usually, art produced under such grants adorn the school in which the applicant worked, she said.

"Hopefully, this will inspire other schools to apply and partner with other community centers," West said, adding that the arts council has seed money available for other community art projects.

The mural was conceived as a response to the county's efforts to beautify the Route 1 corridor, Opasik said, adding that, before the mural went up, the library's facade was "not very appealing."

Phil Lord, the Elkridge Library Branch manager, said the mural was a welcome solution to a "really drab facade." Lord said he'd like to add seating in front of the mural in the future.

County Council member Mary Kay Sigaty, who helped guide the project through the county funding process, said she sees the mural as a "first step of what can be done along the Route 1 corridor."

Such public art projects also would fit well in downtown Columbia, she added.

Sigaty, a Columbia Democrat, said she hopes that more opportunities -- and funding -- become available for similar public art projects.

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