Students at Weeks Middle School in Des Moines have created an outdoor mural for their school through a collaboration by Liz Lidgett Gallery and Design and Des Moines Public Schools. Working with Weeks art teacher Jessica Iyan Wenck and artist Tina Erlich, director of operations with Liz Lidgett Gallery, the students designed and created the mural with the theme of “unity within diversity.” Using a color-by-numbers system, the mural was painted by current students, alumni, staff, parents and volunteers in May at the school building located on the corner of Park and Indianola avenues. Painted on six individual 6-foot metal panels, the mural will be mounted on the west side of the building exterior today. Fundraising efforts by Liz Lidgett Gallery and Des Moines Public Schools secured partnerships to fund the mural project. Sherwin Williams donated the paint, C2F Inc. donated paintbrushes, and Veridian Credit Union donated to supplies and staff time. “We hope the collaborative project inspires surrounding districts and communities,” Erlich said.