Salisbury students create school mural

WINSTED — The American Mural Project partnered with SOAR Educational Enrichment, Inc., Salisbury Central School and twenty2 wallpaper + textile factory of Bantam, to create an all-school mural commemorating the 20th anniversary and legacy of SOAR's after-school enrichment programs and the program's founder, Zenas Block.

The project kicked off in 2020 and involved the entire school community. The initiative was led by Linda Sloane, executive director of SOAR, a community-funded and -directed organization dedicated to providing enrichment programs to the students of Salisbury Central School.

The all-school mural involved students in pre-K-8 at SCS, who worked off of a prompt to create art focused on the work they would like to do when they grow up. Students visually explored their dreams and aspirations for their future work — from teachers, hairdressers, and bus drivers to astronauts, botanists, athletes, and more, according to a statement.

AMP teaching artist Jessica Russell and SCS art teacher Gayle Christinat oversaw more than 300 art creations, which were scanned and digitized by twenty2 and turned into wallpaper that covers the length and width of the hallway — 80 feet long by 8 feet high — outside the art room at SCS.

“The mural is fabulous and a real testament to the power of community,” said Sloane. “So many people helped make this dream a reality. For me, SOAR has always been about two things: community and the kids at Salisbury Central School. This mural captures the essence of SOAR perfectly. I'm thrilled it finally came to fruition.”

The project culminates in an art show at SCS from 5-7 p.m. June 8, for the entire Salisbury Central School community.

“This project is the result of several communities pooling their gifts together and is a testament to the creative resilience and generosity that is ever-present in education, industry, the arts, and the nonprofit world,” commented Michelle Begley, education programs director at AMP.

Launched in 2001 by artist Ellen Griesedieck, the American Mural Project is creating the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world—a three-dimensional mural 120-feet long and five stories high. The mural is a tribute to American workers and highlights what has defined the country over the last century. It seeks to inspire, to educate, to invite collaboration, and to reveal to people of all ages the many contributions they can make to American culture.

More than 15,000 children and adults have helped create pieces of the mural, which is housed in one of two former mill buildings on the AMP campus on Whiting Street in Winsted, Connecticut. Programming is currently offered for schools and teachers, afterschool partnerships, summer enrichment sessions, and an apprentice-style internship program. AMP is currently preparing to open with regular hours in June 2022.

American Mural Project / Contributed photos The all-school mural involved students in pre-K-8 at SCS, who worked off of a prompt to create art focused on the work they would like to do when they grow up.

The project culminates in an art show at SCS from 5-7 p.m. June 8.