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A new mural will soon span the entire back side of Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet School. Students and parents are spending art classes adding color to the exhibit with oversight from muralist Greta McLain of Good Space Murals. The wider community is also invited to help paint the mural at the Moreland Made event on April 25.
How We Got Here
First proposed in 2022, the mural idea has taken three rounds of fundraising through Raise Craze, with overwhelming dedication from staff, students, and the community.
The mural design started in December when artist Greta McLain came in to speak with students, and the school gathered information about what the community wanted to see in the mural. From there, McLain designed a draft including these themes, which was approved by the school, and students started painting last week.
Themes
- Monarchs and the arts: These are important symbols for Moreland symbols as their mascot is the monarch butterfly and the arts comprise half of their specialized magnet curriculum.
- Smiles and rainbows: “All the kids wanted there to be at least one rainbow!” McLain said.
- Building blocks of elementary education: Music notes, the ABCs, numbers, etc.
- The sky and flowers: Nature was also important with the sky symbolizing limitless possibility. “[It represents] dreams, the base, where these kids are headed,” McLain said.
- Action-centered activities: Things that represent thinking, learning, kindness, and community.
- Moreland teachers and students: “Greta models her paintings on the people from the community, so we will likely see students painted into the mural!” said an ISD 197 news release.
Creating the Mural
The mural is hand painted by students, staff, and the community using the parachute cloth method to ensure everyone can be involved without ladders or outdoor weather restrictions. As Good Space Murals’ website describes it: “It is an indirect mural technique that uses a synthetic non-woven canvas called polytab/parachute cloth. Muralists can paint full murals off site on this canvas and then adhere it to the wall like permanent, hand-painted, wall paper.”
The mural consists of over 100 panels and will span the entire back exterior wall facing the school’s playground. Greta estimates the mural will last around 20 years.
Installation will begin in mid-May once all the panels have been completed. The full installation should be completed in June, when Moreland will host a party to unveil the finished product.
Help Paint the Mural
Moreland is hosting a painting party as part of their Moreland Made celebration on Thursday, April 25. Everyone is welcome to participate in the painting of the mural pieces, including students, parents, or interested community members. The event runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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West St. Paul Reader 