High school assembled ship wheel mosaic
A piece of art that ‘is greater than the sum of its parts’
Oct. 27, 2026
The 10th grade’s ship wheel mosaic that reads “Home of the Mariners.” Photo courtesy of Rebecca Gratz.
DEER ISLE — Students at Deer Isle-Stonginton High School participated in a collaborative art activity, creating a mosaic ship's wheel. The activity concluded the Opiate-Free Island Partnership Fall Conference at the school.
“The idea for the ship's wheel mosaic is to create something as a community that is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Rebecca Gratz, principal of the Deer Isle-Stonington High School.
Gratz said the project not only allows each student to use their own creativity, but is also a symbol to the school and the larger island community.
The conference was a day-long event where students connected with local resources, watched a film that featured substance abuse, observed a panel of those affected by drug use, and participated in workshops discussing addiction, recovery, support, healthy coping strategies, and “asking difficult questions in a judgment-free environment,” according to the school’s conference schedule.
“Each grade level created a mosaic, and they will be displayed throughout the school as a reminder of our conference day,” Gratz said.
To learn more about the OFIP Fall Conference, read The Rising Tide’s coverage here.
Students glued individual pieces of their class’s ship mosaic to black poster board. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Gratz.
