HOLMES BEACH – Students returning to the Anna Maria Elementary School (AME) on Aug. 10 will receive a surprise greeting in the form of a 25-foot mural featuring a surfing dolphin, a sunglass-wearing turtle and a pink flamingo.
The mural was sponsored by the AME PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) and was painted by mural and fine artist Cory Wright.
“I was recommended to the PTO by my friend Colleen (Geller) who runs the North Shore Cafe,” Wright said. “I had donated an art class for the PTO fundraiser and they were talking about doing a mural. I also do fine art, but I’ve done murals for about 20 years.”
Wright said AME Principal Katie Fradley sent her a general image of what was wanted for the mural. After some sketches and discussion, Wright personalized it by adding school mascots and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the background.
“This was just a blank wall,” Wright said. “It took me about three days to paint the mural, and then I put sealant on it to protect it.”
Some of Wright’s other mural work can be seen elsewhere on the Island.
“I painted the logo at Roser Church,” she said. “I exhibit at Cove on Bridge Street and I was one of the five contributors to the mural on the side of that building.”
Wright, a Holmes Beach resident and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, specializes in residential interior murals as well as plein air oil landscape paintings. Visit her online at CoryWrightArt.com.
