BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff South River High School freshman Debora Fulop, a student in Linda Grimm's art class, works on a painting that will adorn the walls of the Ria Mar restaurant. SOUTH RIVER - Four students from South River High School are ready to serve up something special at the Ria Mar Restaurant.

The students in Linda Grimm's art class are painting murals to adorn the walls of the Whitehead Avenue eatery.

Grimm said the students are each painting individual scenes from Portugal on four 28-by-40-inch Masonite boards. The finished murals will be put up on dummy windows specifically designed by Ria Mar owner Rui Battista for exhibiting local artists' work.

"I have been an art supporter all of my life," Battista said. "My friend owns a gallery in New York. I was interested in giving local artists a place to exhibit their work, so we redecorated the whole restaurant."

Grimm said the students have been working on the murals in school since spring break.

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff South River High School senior Sarah Petruska paints a Portuguese urban landscape during art class with teacher Linda Grimm on Friday. The work is among those to be displayed at Ria Mar restaurant. "This is a great chance for my students to display their work for the public," Grimm told the Sentinel. "I am thrilled that they have the opportunity to have their work exposed to the town."

Grimm chose three seniors from her advanced art class and one freshman, Debora Fulop. Grimm felt compelled to give the younger student a part in this project.

"She is so talented," Grimm said of Fulop. "I did not want her to miss this opportunity. She is very dedicated."

Fulop, 14, said she was drawn to this project because of her interest in the paint medium and in Portugal as an art subject.

"I am really grateful for this opportunity, and I am enjoying the project very much," Fulop said. Her favorite artist, she noted, is Leonardo da Vinci.

The seniors taking part in the project are Heather Appleby, Brianne MacPherson and Sarah Petruska.

Petruska, 18, is painting a Portuguese castle for her mural, with foliage in the foreground in acrylic paint.

"I am glad that my artwork will be displayed for my community," Petruska said. "It is like having a first gig."

Petruska, who has been named Student Artist of the Month at the high school, said her favorite media to work with are watercolor and pen and ink. She is also an abstract artist who enjoys the work of Salvador Dali. She will attend the University of the Arts in Philadelphia to study illustration this fall.

Appleby, 17, said she was honored to be chosen to paint a mural for public display. Her favorite medium to work with is watercolor, and she admires the work of Pablo Picasso. She plans to go to the School of Visual Arts in New York City to

study fine arts and illustration.

MacPherson, 17, will study radiology at Middlesex County College in the fall, though she said art will remain an integral part of her life after high school. She enjoys painting still-life images and has also been named Student Artist of the Month at the school. Her work is currently on display at two local showcases, including one at the public library.

All four students were also chosen to have their work included in an art show at Middlesex County College. Their work will be on display there May 16-18 as part of a teen arts festival that could result in their being chosen for a state-level contest.

Battista said he takes an active interest in the borough school system and supports it any way he can.

"The next logical step was to get Linda [Grimm]'s art students involved in the restaurant, so that they can exhibit their work," he said.

Battista also recently put the work of South River High School alumna Teresa Andre on display at the restaurant.

Andre, 22, does murals specific to her Portuguese culture by hand painting baked tiles. The piece she did for the Ria Mar Restaurant is 15 feet by 5 feet and has been on display since last month.

The four current students' murals will join Andre's in June, when they will be permanently attached to the walls of the restaurant for display.