JCHS Civil Rights Mural - FINISHED!

You guys!  It's finished!  I gotta say, I'm really proud of this one and the kids who painted it.  My last couple posts were about the process of painting this - starting out with a group brainstorming and designing session, learning about mixing paint values - now it's done!  

We had about 12 students working on this project every day after school for 11 days.  Some kids came every day, some didn't.   Teachers told me that the kids who were struggling in other ways,  connected more to the project than with anything else having to do with their school that they've seen.  It's a pattern that repeats itself over and over in my short history of being an art teacher - the kids who struggle socially and academically are often the kids who need and connect to arts experiences the most.  It is SO important.  

Not only that, but to give all kids the experience of accomplishment - of success in completing something and doing a nice job on it.  Yesterday we had a big celebration for the kids to show off their work.  There was a drawing for art supplies, snacks, and the whole staff and student body was invited, and many showed up to see the mural.  I could see on the kids' faces that they were proud.  Teachers are even planning a "gallery opening" evening event once the mural is installed on the wall, where the kids who were involved can invite friends and family.  I'm excited to go to that, too.  

Overall, this one was a really rewarding experience.  I feel like the subject matter (honoring people who have dedicated their lives to fighting to help others in some way) was beautiful and the execution of the piece was beautiful as well. I like the fact that this mural will be a good teaching tool for the school's social studies teachers for years to come.  Yay!  I want to work with more high schoolers and do mooooore! Ok, now....picture storm!

The whole thing: 4x16 feet

Susan B. Anthony

Gandhi

Cesar Chavez

 

Martin Luther King Jr.

Nelson Mandela

YES! 

Civil Rights Mural Progress

Our Civil Rights Mural is really coming along!  Take a look at these kids working away in the photos below.  

We've been working on this for 7 days after school now, and I am SUPER impressed by their energy and talent.  These kids have been working with a couple teachers to put on an assembly to celebrate Cesar Chavez.  They've booked speakers, ordered t-shirts and motivated each other to come in and paint with me everyday after school for this accompanying mural project.  At the assembly, the kids and teachers will present their work to their school. 

I must admit though that the phrases "I can't", "I'm not an artist", "Am I doing this right?, "You could do it better!" come up more in these higher grade levels (this includes Middle School), than with the Elementary kiddos.  It can be tough as an art teacher to think of good responses to these types of comments from kids.  I just try to stay encouraging and make sure to keep pointing out the SPECIFIC things that I see them doing well.  I think that's the key: not just saying "oh, nice job, I love it!" but saying things like, "that hi-light color really brings out his eyes now" or whatever it is.  The other thing I like to constantly remind kids when they are self-doubting or self-deprecating, is that to do anything well takes a LOT of practice.  It took me years and years of crappy paintings and crappy drawings to be able to do what I do now (which can still turn out crappy even still!).  You have to be patient with yourself whenever you're learning something new. 

Enjoy and stay tuned for pics of the final mural!