School Murals

THE PURPOSE

Murals serve many purposes. When done well, they brighten and enhance the environment, and reflect aspects of our community, culture, and aspirations. They provide a forum in which creativity and talent can be showcased. I believe that when individuals are involved in the mural making process, they develop a greater sense of pride and ownership over their surroundings. Outdoor areas become more colourful, meaningful, and less prone to vandalism.

This page showcases some of the projects I have been involved with while working with students aged 5-13. As an educator and artist I still feel immense joy and pride when I see students ideas and collaborative projects completed and displayed in their communities. 

APANUI SCHOOL - WHAKATANE NZ
BLOCK WALL

In 2015 the school PTA wanted to create a block wall on site. The purpose was to give students an opportunity to practice their ball skills by using it as a rebound wall. I was asked to create a mural that would brighten the physical environment of the school, while allowing children to have 'targets' to practice against.

I wanted to keep the wall as simple as possible, using silhouettes of children as the overall theme.
I decided on a 'bubbles' theme on the court side of the wall, so that children could invent their own games 'bursting the bubbles.' I toyed with the idea of putting points on the wall but  decided it was best to allow learners the opportunity to make up their own rules. The field side just contained silhouettes of children running and playing cricket. I included wickets so that they could practice against a target without requiring equipment.

Painting on a wall requires more patience and skill. Painting is weather dependant, and it is not as easy for students to work on a vertical surface without dripping paint. I worked with a group of 9-11 year olds from the senior school to complete the mural.

APANUI SCHOOL - WHAKATANE NZ


In 2013, I was asked again to complete some murals at this awesome school in the Bay of Plenty. We wanted two separate ideas represented - one on native birds, and one depicting the community. These ones were designed by me but painted by year 5-6 students.
I entered the school in the Resene Mural Masterpieces competition, and we won the National title for the best School mural. It is the second time I have worked with a school to claim this prize.
Link to Resene website

STONEFIELDS PRIMARY -AUCKLAND NZ

I was thrilled to be asked back to Stonefields school for the second time as an art specialist. The first time I visited, I worked with foundation pupils to create a foyer display. You can view this work listed under my 'painting' page. During this visit, I worked with students on creating murals for the side entrance to the school. It took two days to complete the three large panels.

APANUI PRIMARY -WHAKATANE NZ

These murals were completed in 2005, as the main entrance to the school was in need of more visual impact. The school wanted murals that reflected the local landscape, so children drew local landmarks and native plants common to their district, which were enlarged and painted onto 5 outdoor boards. Year 5-6 pupils were selected for the painting process. A different group of students were involved in the design phase.

Our sandpit mural was a fun interpretation of a day at the beach!

ARANGA PRIMARY - DARGAVILLE NZ


This small rural school north of Dargaville, met in 2001 to discuss innovative ways to make the school more exciting, stimulating and and inviting. The community were involved in providing resources and many parents and board members completed their own murals to brighten up the learning environment. I oversaw three major series of murals, in which every student in the school was involved with. Some of these were completed while I was working as team leader at the school, and others were worked on with students directly from our schoolhouse garage while I was on maternity leave.

Along with placing third that year in the World Wildlife Fund national banner competition, we also won the first ever national Resene Mural Masterpieces competition.

Link to Resene Website



OUR LOCAL AREA

These murals were completed by an art extension group selected from year 6-8. Much time and thought was spent on the students initial drawings which depict local landmarks and relevant features from our environment.

POOL MURALS - BY THE SHORE

Our school swimming pool area was lacking in beauty, so learners decided this area was a good starting point to beautify. Large murals on each of the changing sheds, and a wall mural on an aquatic theme were decided upon. These murals were an opportunity for the junior pupils to make their mark. Every child in the junior school drew a beach related picture for the border designs, and their drawings of crabs and scuba divers were compiled and enlarged for the central design. Juniors had the chance to assist older year 5 pupils paint their own design, by the rest of the painting was done by the older students.


NATIVE TREES

For this triptych of murals, we focused on native trees that were significant to our local environment.

Year 7-8 students helped design the motifs in the circular frames, and drew the trees using nature as their motivation. Their ideas were compiled and enlarged onto three large timber boards. 

I believe that literacy and art have an innate connection, so led a writing extension group to get student's poetry to add to the murals. All learners wrote their own pieces, and we then collaborated...sharing the best of our ideas and vocabulary, and re-crafting them to make polished pieces of poetry.

GLENFIELD PRIMARY - AUCKLAND NZ

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

While working at this school, I had the pleasure of coaching pupils who designed, drew and painted two series of murals. One series was based on the famous children's
book 'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak. For these fun murals, the book was used as motivation. The year 4-6 art extension group drew their own interpretations of the story, including a panel for each key event. These were then enlarged and painted onto boards which brightened the learner's environment.

ASPIRATIONS

The second series of murals were based on students aspirations. Student's drew from life to come up with the designs for these funky views of what they aspired to be.

Every pupil in year 3-6 participated in the drawing sessions, and the best images were chosen to grace the boards.

Once painting began, a focus group of children with the ability to mix colour and use fine detail were chosen.

The thing I love about these murals is how the pupils drawings are so endearing. Children have a unique perspective of the world, and when you take their ideas and give them a forum in which to express themselves...the results are magic! 

I hope all of these kids ended up fulfilling there aspirations!

TE KOPURU PRIMARY- DARGAVILLE NZ

I worked with year 7-8 pupils at this school to create a mural that represented their schools values and cultural identity. The school briefed me on the elements they wanted represented in the mural, which I used to motivate the group of ten students who had been selected to work with me. Students completed drawings using Maori mythology as motivation, and we then cut and pasted their ideas to create a final design. 

They were painted on two board of tanalised outdoor plywood, using Resene house paints.

The completed mural told a story that the students in both the Maori Immersion Unit and the rest of the school could easily retell and relate to.  Although these murals aren't my favourites from a 'visual' perspective, I do believe the students involved with this project 'understood' the purpose of of the mural more than any other group I have worked with. Their ownership over the project and ability to directly relate it to their school's vision was heartwarming.