Mural Arts Project
Visit the "mural in process" gallery
A small group of UC student artists have participated with other students from around the state of PA to create a large mural. The mural site is located next the the PA Department of Education building in Harrisburg. Students have helped to create a portion of the mural on fabric. Read an article from the Erie Times News about the Project. At the bottom of this page is a complete description of our involvement with this project including a timeline.
The mural was dedicated on November 3rd. To see images from the mural dedication, visit the mural dedication gallery. During the ceremony, many important political leaders including Governor Rendell spoke emphatically of the importance of arts education. The speakers had many kind words to share with the crowd of teachers, students, and politicians. Read an article from the Harrisburg Patriot News about the dedication. Or, read news of the ceremony at the PDE news site.
Visit the "mural dedication" gallery
The image below highlights the bottom left section of the mural that Union City art students painted.
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Mural Arts, Philadelphia
In July, Ms. Fontes and Mrs. Meier traveled to Philadelphia to learn more about mural arts in our state and to participate in a leadership retreat for the Board of Directors, PAEA. We went on a tour of West Philadelphia to see how the beautiful murals in these struggling neighborhoods have helped to better the community. Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia is an active non-profit organization headed by artist and community activist, Jane Golden. Golden began the project in the 1980's as the anti-grafitti network. The murals are designed and painted by members of the local community with the help of professional fine artists. The subject matter of the murals is decided upon by a committee of people who live in the community of the mural site.
While in Philadelphia, about twenty art teachers from across the state of Pennsylvania met together with muralist Cesar Viveros at the Mural Arts Program building. It was at that Sunday morning meeting that the planning and design for the Harrisburg mural began. The theme was chosen based on the mission statement of the PA Department of Education. “Lifelong Learning” was to be depicted on a 20x20 foot mural that would be installed on an exterior wall right outside the department of Education building in Harrisburg .
In late October two boxes arrived with all of the supplies to paint our section of the mural. The boxes, one for the elementary art students and one for the middle/high students, came filled with the non-woven cloth which looked like a giant and very blank paint by number project. 12 jars of paints in beautiful colors were also in the box. Each jar had a number which corresponded to a number on cloth. 6 fifth graders along with group of middle and high school students who were chosen for their outstanding artistic ability set to work with Mrs. Meier and Ms. Fontes to being painting these small spaces with the right color. We painted at lunch and after school for two days to complete our section. We painted in an excited rush, ever mindful of our responsibility to maintain neat craftsmanship. The sections needed to be complete in just two days before it was sent back to Harrisburg for the installation. It was a tight schedule.
On November 3rd the mural was unveiled at 333 Market St in Harrisburg, just outside the building that is home to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Governor Rendell, praised the work of Jane Golden and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program for here work on this and 2,000 other murals. This mural was the first outside of Philadelphia to be completed under the direction of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (PMAP). Randy Granger, president of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association congratulated students and teachers for their artistic contribution to such
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Timeline
Click on the hyperlinks for more imags that correspond to the timeline
Early July 2005 – Art teachers and students from each region of the state are selected to participate in painting a mural for the PA Dept. of Education. The project is to be led by Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia and is funded in part by the PA Art Education Association.
July 20 – Art teachers meet with muralist Cesar Viveros for a mural imagery brainstorm
Early October – Teachers and student receive an image by email of the preliminary design
Early October - Teachers respond to the proposed design and make suggestions for revision. A second design is emailed to teachers.
October 18, 19 – Students across PA paint their section of the cloth mural which was mailed to each school.
October 24 – Cesar Viveros and his team begin adhering each of the cloth panels to the wall. Additional painting is done to smooth the transitions between each section and to add final details.
Nov 3 – The mural is complete! Students, teachers, parents, politicians and the press gather for the dedication ceremony. Gov. Rendell speaks of the importance and value of art education in Pennsylvania . Beautiful white doves were released at the close of the ceremony.
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Thinking of Painting a Mural?
Fabric Mural Basics - A word document by Susan Durgin, PAEA Elementary Division Chair and Carlisle Schools Art Teacher
A wonderful description of the methods and materials for installing a fabric mural
Murals with a Message - a Sax Arts lesson plan
