By Catholic Philly staff • Posted March 8, 2023

Students from Archbishop John Carroll High School in Radnor unveiled the mosaic installation they created for the Valley Forge Service Plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Friday, March 3 as a result of their work with the Art Sparks Program.

The school was invited by the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) to participate in this initiative. The Art Sparks Program is created and funded by the PA Council on the Arts and the PA Turnpike Commission.

Over 200 students helped to develop the glazed ceramic tile mosaic depicting the history and evolution of Valley Forge Park.

Daniela Flores, a senior at the Delaware County school, said the semester-long project “was a big collaboration” among her peers pointing to her AP art class which helped on designs and the ceramics art class which brought the designs to life.

“It represents the arts community at Carroll and our rich environmental and historical culture in the Philadelphia area,” she said.

Ms. Jessica Liddell, a PA Council on the Arts teaching artist, guided the students as they worked on the mosaic.

In addition, Sister Lauretta Linsalata, I.H.M., Archbishop Ryan High School is on the board of the PAEP and served as the school liaison for this project.

“We strive to find opportunities for our students to gain some real-world experience where they can take what they learn in the classroom out into the wider community,” said Bill Gennaro, Principal of Archbishop Carroll High School.

In 2017, the PA Council on the Arts (PCA) and the PA Turnpike Commission began an arts program, Art Sparks, to beautify the Turnpike Service Plazas across Pennsylvania.

The project is fully funded through the Regional PCA Arts in Education Partner with funds from the PCA and Turnpike Commission.