Everett Mural Program Recap

Returning to my former high school to launch a mural program as an adult was a rewarding experience.

I felt like my own version of Ms. Frizzle, and although I didn’t have a magic bus, letting the students explore their creativity was its own kind of adventure.

The biggest difference between this program and the others I’ve been fortunate to help with was that these students CHOSE to be here. We required students to submit an application so that we could select the most interested candidates. In other summer camps or afterschool programs, the students involved are generally there because they are already enrolled in the overall programming. Don’t get me wrong, that breeds its own beauty, especially when a student who didn’t initially have interest gets excited. This was simply a new approach for me that I also find valuable.

The fact that these students were already at the stage of expanding their creativity made my job a breeze. They came up with the designs, they paired themselves into teams, they hit the ground running. ANDDD…Four paint days later we had a completed mural.

My hope for these students is, regardless of their chosen path, that they lead a life feeling empowered. I want them to know they can make a difference. I want them to take up space and understand that it matters. For years to come people will walk past their artwork and have thoughts, feelings, and want to know more. Most of the people their artwork will touch they will never know.

This is why public art is crucial. It reminds us we play a part in the world around us. Sometimes that’s with a can of paint, sometimes it is holding a door for someone carrying a weight we may never see.

If you know any schools or youth organizations that would enjoy a program like this, please share this recap with them. To chat more about programming or upcoming opportunities, please fill out my Contact Me Form.