Children of the Eagle and The Quetzal
Wayne Sheppard

Art and environmental studies are combined as students create a mural that represents and celebrates the interconnectedness of people, birds, trees, and plant life from North America to Central America. Migratory bird patterns and the link between preservation of temperate deciduous forests and tropical rain forests is explored. The mural project is also an exploration of the cultural symbolism of the North American eagle of the U.S. and Mexico, and the resplendent Quetzal of Mexico and Central America. Animal and plant symbols from Native Americans, Aztec, and Mayan peoples, and the students' personal interpretations of natural forms become visual motifs for creating a visually stunning and informative work of art.