My Mural Program at Everett Highschool
This spring, I started a mural program at my former high school…
Students of the Everett High School mural workshop with lead instructor Mila Lynn (middle) and workshop assistant Jared Autrey (right).
I graduated from Everett High School in 2013. I never remember thinking, even as much as I really enjoyed art, I would ever pursue it as a career. We were never taught there is actual money in the industry or educated about the many types of paths artists follow.
Everett High school’s beloved art teacher Pamela Collins (right).
In the last couple years I’ve been fortunate to build new relationships and continue to strengthen old ones with the staff there. For instance, Ms. Pamela Collins is the most goated art teacher ever. She’s in her 70’s and has been teaching art at Everett for over 40 years. So when the opportunity arose to pitch a mural program, everything slowly fell into place.
During a fundraising dinner in October, a common occurrence of me running my mouth took place. I just so happened to run into the Visual and Performing Arts Specialist for Lansing School District…
I was attending the dinner to speak about REACH Studio Art Center, one because of my love for the arts, and two because I am one of their original students that went on to pursue the arts professionally. I made the terrible decision to drink a kombucha before arriving in hopes that the caffeine would supplement the lack of coffee in my system. I do not have a personality that actually needs caffeine, I literally could have climbed up the wall. Anyways, while greeting guests I was able to shake hands with Brian Maher. “Let me know if you ever want to do a mural camp with the students,” I casually stated. And the rest is history!
Now we are just about a week a way from the students putting cans and brushes to the wall. I couldn’t be more excited to show them different techniques for painting murals. And per usual, I am sure I will learn something from them through this process as well. A couple weeks ago we had a collaborative brainstorm session to get ideas flowing for the design. Below are some of their sketches and the final design we will be applying to the wall this upcoming week.
Students practice thinking big by drawing large lines, shapes, designs, etc
Students designs from the collaborative design workshop.
Stay tuned for a blog post of the final mural installation! If you or someone you know is affiliated with a school, university, or another organization that would like to explore large-scale paint projects, please connect with me via my Book Me Form.
P.S. If you are an artist that operates out of Detroit check out The Color Bloc Detroit, a female-owned boutique paint shop. I get both my bucket and spray paint from there, and they are always excited to help artists create their next BIG project.