WILTON — The hallway of G.D. Cushing School has a large, new mural hanging on the wall that joins displays of children’s artwork.

Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington donated four murals to Regional School Unit 9 that the hospital bought in 2002 for its new Maternal and Child Health Unit, FMH spokeswoman Jill Gray said in a news release.

Artist Lord Clinton Casey of New Vineyard created the four plein-air-style paintings that depict a community fair.

New, more stringent codes and standards from the National Fire Protection Association would have required the hospital either to put the murals under glass or chemically treat the art to decrease its flammability, according to hospital Director of Facilities Cole Teague.

“The prohibitive cost for either option was the deciding factor in the hospital’s choice to donate the art to a children’s (school) that could use and appreciate it,” Gray said.

RSU 9 Superintendent Mike Cormier, Cushing School Principal Darlene Paine, Teague and MaryAnne Goodwin, FMH nurse manager of the Maternal Child Health Unit, met at the school Thursday to see where the mural was placed.

Another mural is on display at Mt. Blue Middle School. The two largest panels will be hung at Mallett School in Farmington, Gray said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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