Mural with Shabazz High School

I combined forces with teens at Shabazz High School to create this mini-mural, using their ideas on the focus of Growth. Inside this simple image is multiple layers of meaning, which came out of a design session, where we drew pictures of what came to mind and discussed what growth means for us.

We worked together painting the image onto the two panels over the course of the week. Most students got the chance to paint big for the first time, which was a new experience that some enjoyed and some preferred to try, but continued working on their own smaller projects. I felt very at home in this school, with their art teacher Rachel Schramm just outside the door in the their art room, where the students were having art class while I worked solo. They were very inviting and I’d like to extend a “thank you” for the peace that these students and staff bring to a typically turbulent space. I feel like you all have brought the word growth fully to your environment and I’m happy to now be a part of that with this piece.

Meaning - Growth:
The plant represents our personal growth, the light and dark contrast between the background and circle show the struggle often necessary for the process of growth. The strong hands in the center gently hold the maturing plant, showing how we need to care for ourselves when things get difficult in order to make space for the light to come in. Rain falls in from the top, reminding us that the difficulty will be over and when we embrace that, the sun returns, bringing with it our rainbow.

Light and Dark - Both equally necessary for growth.
Rain - Without rain there is no life / “Without rain, there would be no rainbows.”
Hands - Gently holding the plant that represents our growth - showing how we care for ourselves when things get tough.