Friday, August 13, 2010 at 10:09AM
Johnson students and volunteers put the finishing touches on their new mural, which reads, “We love our garden so very much, please look and don’t touch!” Posted by Jessica Romer, Community Initiatives Coordinator
Originally published in the Connecting Generations newsletter
It’s not uncommon, especially in a new community garden, for vandalism to occur from time to time. It takes time for neighbors and residents to figure out what the new space is all about, why it is there and how it works. Over time, as gardeners are present and caring for the garden, and talking to passersby about the purpose of the space, we’ve found that the garden becomes a space respected by the community. Of course gardeners can’t be at the garden all the time and a mural, especially one painted by youth in the community, is one way of showing a colorful presence to the surrounding community. This summer, youth across the city have been busy painting murals to make their mark, whether just to add color to the garden, or to let neighbors know that the garden is loved and tended and that it’s greatly appreciated when the space is respected by all.
Park Hill students and Niishia, intern, show off their newly painted bench-back. If your school garden doesn’t have any murals hanging, consider making one for your next art project! Murals are a fun and creative project to do with kids. All you need is a piece of plywood from the hardware store (or alley), and we do suggest indoor/outdoor paint that will endure for multiple seasons. You might also have a brainstorming session with the kids first to decide on a theme. Happy painting!
