A mosaic of color on the external wall of the Studio, Sage Hill School’s new donor appreciation art was installed on Sept. 6. The piece was designed and built by Digital Arts teacher and 9th Grade Dean Brian McMahon.

“The school approached me about four years ago and asked if I would be interested in creating a sculpture that would recognize the people who donated money to Sage during the first years of the school,” McMahon said.

McMahon attended the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating with a major in glass. After working freelance during college for various artists and studios around the country, he ultimately brought his artistic expertise to Sage Hill School.

“I went through a design phase for the donor recognition project; the design is based on the stone walls that run throughout campus. The glass in the art piece is really nice quality glass from Germany. It’s engraved with the donors’ names and assembled in six different pieces for structural integrity,” McMahon said.

The piece not only recognizes 118 donors who donated $50,000 or more to Sage Hill School during its first ten years, but shines a spotlight on each one.

“Mr. McMahon has etched the glass of the sculpture so that the names of the donors are illuminated at night,” said Director of Development Shoshana Grammer.

The artwork is backlit with an LED lighting system and produces illuminative brilliance at night.

“I’m so appreciative of the people who donate money because without them, we wouldn’t be who we are, so recognizing them is a really great thing,” McMahon said. “I hope everybody gets a chance to come look at the piece.”