Kathryn Senor students create legacy mural

Anchoring through the words of art, peace, courage and love, the Kathryn Senor fifth graders are leaving a legacy of inspiration.

In the elementary school’s foyer, twenty-four individual panels create a mural where caterpillars become butterflies and dragonflies meander their way through vines and flowers to eventually have the confidence to soar on their own, knowing they can safely return.

Kathryn Senor Elementary art teacher Carmel Walden shepherded the students through an 18-month journey, that metaphorically illustrates the human needs for stable support and soaring independence using the images of roots and wings.

“We started the project last year.  Although we finished most of the pieces then, my class is process-based and I like to stress the importance of taking your time and revising your work.  Rather than rush, we decided to keep working on it this year so that we could make sure to have it as beautiful and meaningful as possible,” she explained.

In total, the mural took over 300 student hours to complete with 50 students spending at least six hours a piece on the project. It’s a project that spoke to fifth-grader Tatum Duclo.

“It shows how we can be here and not be afraid of who we are, but we can also get ideas from here and then go away on our wings and still be able to be successful other places,” said Tatum.

Students created the art on recycled fence planks and used different medium including chalk pastels, paints and ceramics. The Speckled Feather, a New Castle arts and crafts store, donated many of the materials.

“We created a flower growing up, and then the roots went down to a word that inspires us - like art,” added Elsa McKibben. “We also made pollinators, so there are clay bees, fireflies and dragonflies flying around.”

Ms. Walden wanted the students of KSE to create a piece of art that both welcomed families and community and was representative of Kathryn Senor Elementary.

“I was drawn to this school because it has a strong culture of supporting the whole child.  KSE nurtures every student's emotional and creative growth as well as academic, and it is my thinking that the school environment and especially the entryway should reflect these priorities.  In the art studio, we often discuss how people communicate important concepts and feelings through words AND visual art.  I love the way this mural uses both to welcome kids and visitors with a message that we believe all students deserve nourishment to fly where their unique dreams lead.”