Most students at South go about their day as usual, with some going to the CAA, some going to clubs, and some leaving early. However, a select few students get to brighten the days of elementary school kids. Junior Liv Shields and seniors Alex Reed, Nicki Hashimoto and Ximena De Andra go to Brookwood Elementary during their shared hour of Professional Art Practices to plan and create a mural on the school’s walls.
While it may only be an empty wall now, by the end of the year, Brookwood Elementary plans to have a nearly 22 feet long mural that is completely brainstormed, workshopped, illustrated, and produced by South students alongside Brookwood Principal Kevin Frick and South art teacher Abbey Thomas.
“Brookwood had a new wall which was very blank and boring,” Thomas said. “We had some students who would be willing to do a mural. They all made their own sketches. We went to Mr. Frick, and he designed, or laid out, what he wanted on that wall.”
The current sketches include the school’s mascot, Baxter the beaver, building a dam, reading books, and bonding with friends. The mural provides a good example for the current generation of elementary students as well as future generations.
“The mural will be up there for a long time,” Frick said. “Generations of Brookwood kids are always going to see that and have a connection to that. My hope is that some of our students here at Brookwood who are watching these high school students create this art, will then start to have a love of art for themselves.”
Many students watch while the artists work, gaining extra exposure to something they could do in the future. Most kids only do art in their art class, which, unlike middle and high school students, is only 1/4th of the time or less. Giving kids someone to look up to and see art from someone other than their art teacher is showing the effect of more kids interested in art.
“The elementary students, seeing the high schoolers up here, has a positive impact. Seeing students do art, which for a lot of kids, they don’t get that opportunity to always see artistic things happening.” Mr. Frick adds.” They can see things like athletics and sports and things like that, but now they can see some things being created.”
The high school students are able to go to Brookwood and make this mural through a class called Professional Art Practices. The class teaches them valuable skills like problem solving, communication and teamwork.
“I do think this project will help these high schoolers develop important skills. They’re having to do a lot of problem solving. They have to think about how they’re going to approach that situation and communicate with that person so that the end product is successful.” Thomas said. “The relationship amongst those four artists is successful.”
Not only are students benefitting from the mural, but Frick has also noticed a boost in morale and pride in Brookwood.
“I’ve had so many comments from teachers saying, like, they love the process. They can’t wait to see the finished product. It’s definitely brought a lot of joy and happiness to the staff this year so far,” Frick said.
