Extreme Makeover: Sunrise Elementary School edition
Walls are talking in the Sunrise Elementary School bathrooms, and they’re conveying some inspiring messages.
In a collaboration known as the “Sunrise Elementary Makeover Takeover” with the school’s Parent and Teacher Association (PTA), artists from Black Filigree Tattoo spent the month of September spicing up about a dozen student bathrooms and the teacher’s Zen room.
The artists hand- and spray-painted encouraging quotes and graphic and added vinyl murals to encourage students, boost self-esteem and inspire them to be leaders in their classrooms and social circles.
According to Sunrise PTA Secretary Cassie Landreth, several parents had approached PTA members at the start of the school year about doing a project like this for Sunrise students.
At first the members were unsure of how they’d get the idea off the ground, not having anyone among them who could tackle such an artistically innovative project. Then they thought of Black Filigree.
Landreth was in the shop on Main Street when she brought the idea up to Elle Audra, one of the owners of Black Filigree.
“I felt like it was going to be a hard ‘no,’ because I was asking a lot,” Landreth said. “But it was an instant ‘Yes, I’d love to.’”
The veteran Marine and her staff devoted their talent and Monday evenings to the project, knocking out one set of bathrooms at a time.
“It was the first time we had the opportunity to work with the school system here in Yuma so the staff was very excited,” Audra said. “Since finishing the project we have gotten requests from several families and students from other schools to paint their schools as well.”
Black Filigree does a community outreach project each month to donate their talent and resources to improve the community. In August, the shop paired up with the Humane Society for their Dog’s Day Out program.
Audra said they’re still deciding what their October outreach will be.
Each of the Sunrise bathrooms has a unique theme chosen by the artists – like Dr. Seuss, outer space and floral designs. Some, like the bathrooms nearest to the playground, have a sportier theme and display affirmative quotes about leadership.
“As a social worker, I know there’s a lot of kids that don’t get the opportunity to hear some of the positive things that are on those walls every day,” Landreth said. “Even if it brings up the spirit of just a couple of kids that normally wouldn’t hear that, then I think that made all the time and effort worth it for sure.”
According to the PTA, all of the students are thrilled with the makeover.
“It’s super special to them,” Jessica Eversole, PTA chair for the project, said. “They go in and check every day to make sure it’s still there.”
Because there’s often a stigma associated with tattoo shops and the artists who work there, the Sunrise PTA is proud to have created a link between the school and Black Filigree.
“As an artist I can attest to how difficult it is to show that we are just normal people that want the best for our family, friends and the community,” Audra said. “Through our efforts I hope to change any negative opinions that people may have of tattoos and piercings and the artists that work in the industry.”
According to Eversole, the PTA is working out the details with Black Filigree to have them return for a mural project above the gate leading to the cafeteria.