Hamburgers and high art?

The Wendy’s on Route 30 will look a little more “artsy” in a few weeks when members of the art club finish the mural that will be prominently displayed outside the fast-food. restaurant.

Club adviser Mr. John Toothman and the club members expect to finish the mural December 20.

The art club (and the art department) received a commission of $3,000 for the work. The mural, which is designed to look like a postcard, highlights different historical aspects of Hammonton.  Much research went into picking the different historical aspects of town to feature on the mural, assisted by  the Hammonton Historical Society.

Toothman is very optimistic about the future of the art club and the mural itself. In his opinion, there are two important reasons for the school to have an art club: it allows both the school and the community to reach out to the club for artistic projects and provides students with more time to work artistically.

“Forty-five minutes in a day isn’t enough for them,” he said. “So the art club provides an additional outlet for their creativity and talents.”

Some students have stayed as late as 5:00 working on the project.

Many of these students were really happy about the return of the art club because it allows them to work together on a huge art project, as opposed to individual creations.

Vanessa Traxler, a senior club member, helped with both sketching and painting the mural.

“I joined the art club because I wanted to hang out with my friends, and because I really enjoy art in school,” she said.

Traxler was very happy that the art club returned to the school because she never had the opportunity to join a club that really showcases her talents.

Sophomore Shanna Petersen has also been working on the project, assisting with the sketching, the priming, and the painting of the mural.

“I’ve always enjoyed art, and I really wanted to join because the club wasn’t offered last year,” she said.