Hard work, creativity, and a drive to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you; these were the larger lessons that artist Mandi Caskey instilled in our students during her three-day visit to campus. She also led the boys in a spray paint demonstration, divulged details about various art-based careers, and worked alongside students in creating a beautiful mural for our campus. This was the fifth annual installment of the visiting artist program, made possible through the Lech Family Visual Arts Endowment.

Mandi Caskey, known professionally as Miss Birdy, is an internationally recognized muralist and visual artist based in Columbus, Ohio. She specializes in large-scale public and commercial works sometimes reaching as large as 400 feet in length and 90 feet in height. Her work in this field spans more than 10 years, and has taken her all over the world working for clients including fortune 500 companies, major brands, and local municipalities. 

Caskey began her visit on Sunday, October 25, with an evening presentation in the Brown Auditorium where she shared more about her journey to where she is today, and what opportunities exist in the arts. On Monday, art students tried their hand at spray painting and got to work painting the color sections of a stained-glass style mural panel designed by Caskey. On Tuesday, Caskey put the finishing touches on the student artwork before painting an incredibly life-like winged beaver as the centerpiece of the mural. She ended her visit by participating in the school’s collaborative ASPIRE program, working with students from the local Covenant Prep middle school.

Overall, Caskey says she was impressed with Avon Old Farms. “Well first of all, it’s beautiful here. The campus is absolutely gorgeous. The students all seem excited to learn. They’ve been really attentive and a lot of them are super talented. I think some of them want to keep working with spray paint after I leave.”

One of those students is Landry Trantolo ’29, who returned to the art studio during a free period for more practice and some one-on-one guidance from Caskey. “I think it’s fun. Graffiti is pretty cool, but harder than I expected to get it exactly how you envisioned,” Trantolo says. “But Miss Birdy is really interesting and has been a lot of help.”

He has already taken drawing and painting classes at Avon, but hadn’t worked much with spray paint specifically before. “I’d like to do more. Maybe an AIP or in AP Art when I take it next year.”

Senior Jack Donnelly ’27, hadn’t taken an art class since his sophomore year, but was happy to be back working on an art piece. He spent a large part of Monday afternoon working on the mural. “It’s fun to paint. That’s the biggest reason I’m out here. Just being in the art studio is really nice, too. It’s a relaxing place to come and hang out.”

He says he is looking forward to seeing the finished mural mounted in the Estabrook Fine Arts Center’s outdoor patio space. “It will be cool to come by and see this piece and be able to say, ‘that part was me.’”

For Caskey, she’s glad to have been able to create an art piece that will vitalize campus for years to come, and hopes to have left an impact on the students themselves as well. “I just hope I inspired these guys that it’s worth trying. If you see a potential opportunity, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and ask the question. Also, I hope I’ve made them realize that being creative doesn’t have to just be a hobby.”

Visual Arts Chair Cristina Pinton, who organized the visit, was impressed as well. “I wish I could be as cool as her,” Pinton says. “The final panel Miss Birdy painted is incredible. I want to see if we can utilize it in other ways. It just came out amazing.”

Anyone that wants to view the finished art piece created by Caskey with help from students can view it in the rotunda outside the Ordway Art Gallery. For more photos from Caskey’s visit, click here.