School’s Fish Mural Is Something to Sea

Stingrays, sharks and sea horses now grace a wall alongside Wilbur Avenue Elementary, providing not only aesthetic beauty but an educational tool.

Last week a trio of volunteer artists completed the 310-foot mural on Crebs Avenue at Canasta Street.

“It’s getting a lot of smiles,” Principal Richard Hickcox said. “It adds a lot to the school and community.”

Work began 18 months ago, but ceased when the original artist landed a paying job and no longer had enough time. Terri Peretz, corresponding secretary for the school’s booster club, later asked the Volunteer Center Assistance League of Southern California to help find another volunteer.

A classified newspaper ad placed by the center caught the attention of Willie de Jesus, while Gretchen Schaper saw a listing in the center’s newsletter. The third volunteer, Albert Jimenez, knew of the project because he is a special education aide at Wilbur.

Working from sunup to sundown, De Jesus and Schaper painted about 95 species of marine life, using picture books as their guide. Jimenez joined them after school on a few days.

“It’s an accomplishment--the biggest project I’ve ever worked on,” said De Jesus, a tile setter and handyman who hopes to someday make a living from his art. “I didn’t have any other work at the time and wanted a volunteer project.”

During the weeklong job, the Ontario resident stayed several nights at a local motel, courtesy of the booster club.

Schaper, who works with oils, pastels and watercolors, recently moved to the Valley from Colorado, where she had several exhibitions of her work.

“I think it’s good to volunteer, so I’m always looking for something,” she said.

The mural along the sloping wall--just 42 inches at its highest point--was perfect for Schaper, a paraplegic who did some of the work from her wheelchair and some while sitting on the sidewalk.

Peretz, who estimated the booster club spent $700 on the mural, said her only stipulation was that the fish and animals be painted to look real, not like cartoon characters. She is developing lesson plans so students can learn about marine life.

“I didn’t want people to look at it and laugh,” she said. “I wanted them to look at it and think and admire.”