Arundel High School’s National Art Honor Society closed out the past school year unveiling a three-part mural created by students that depicts Odenton’s past, present and future. The mural is at the entrance of the Flats 170 at Academy Yard on Telegraph Road in Odenton.

Last fall, the Odenton Historical Society and local chamber of commerce reached out to the honor society to create the mural.

“I think they wanted to create a visual history of the community to understand the past and where we’re going in the future,” said Sheila Brooks, chairwoman of Arundel High’s visual arts department.

Students began by researching the history of Odenton, learning about how the town was created around the railroad — and about Oden Bowie, who contributed significantly to bringing the railroad to Odenton.

The first of the three panels that make up the mural depicts Bowie pouring out the railroad tracks from his extended hand.

“They’re kinda clever, those kids of mine,” Brooks said.

A church and the pasture land of Odenton’s past are also depicted in the mural, as is the Nevemar Corp. building. Nevemar was a plastic company and occupied the space that is now the Flats and Academy Yard.

The second mural depicts Odenton’s present and includes the MARC train, Annapolis Road and many retail outlets. Viewers will recognize Giant, Wheels Skating Rink, Brown Box Eatery and the Johns Hopkins medical building as well as churches and townhomes.

The third mural — designed to consider Odenton’s future — tapped students’ imagination and creativity.

“The kids felt in the future there would be eco-friendly transportation such as a magnetic train, as well as more green space for parks and recreation,” Brooks said. “The students thought the space [of Odenton] should be used for green recreation and family activities.”

Indeed, the future mural has bright blues of a clear sky and lake as well as vast green space depicting a park with trees, a basketball court and children’s playground — while acknowledging Odenton’s history with the eco-friendly train.

The murals took months to create. Brooks credits Elina Baltins, president of the school’s National Art Honor Society, with spearheading the project.

Buzzotto Homes, which owns the Flats, was so pleased with the murals that the company made a donation to the honor society. Brooks also credits local business FastSigns for donating all the vinyl material the murals are painted on.

“Part of Arundel High’s mission is to work and create art that represents parts of our community,” Brooks said. “Global Citizenship and Community Development is AHS’s signature program. It is a course of study which includes community-based education and understanding different cultures. It’s a stepping stone. We want our kids to leave with a direction when they graduate.

“Our goal in the NAHS is to further educate the community about Odenton’s place in our region,” she said. “We would like to continue with the society’s ability to beautify our community.”

The mural was finished and put up on the last day of school in June. Brooks hopes it will remain there at least a year.

aroundcrofton@gmail.com