Sellwood Middle School “JUSTICE” Mural
Joanne Oleksiak, Eduardo Fernandez and Rin Carroll Jackson featured in the Sellwood Bee Article by David Ashton. Joanne acted as Project Coordinator, Eduardo was the Lead Painter and Rin served as Site Coordinator
Project Coordinator – Joanne Oleksiak
Lead Painter – Eduardo Fernandez
Site Coordinator – Rin Carroll Jackson
New justice-themed mural graces Sellwood Middle School
By David F. Ashton
The Bee, Jun 8, 2010, Updated Jun 9, 2010
Brandie Graham, Laurin Radcliffe and Zola Walton say they enjoyed how much input they were allowed to express on mural project.
Because of the success last year of a semester-long project to create and produce a wall-sized mural in a hallway at Sellwood Middle School, the school’s Principal, Helen Nolen, was encouraged repeat the effort this year.
“What I found out about murals is that it’s a real community-building process,” explained Nolen, at the May 7th dedication ceremony. “150 eighth graders got to enjoy the experience of creating a new mural this spring.”
With funding in hand from the school’s PTA Arts & Culture Committee, Nolen again contacted Portland’s leading “mural facilitator”, Joanne Oleksiak — who successfully guided last year’s sixth grade Life Sciences mural project at the school, with top mural artist Larry Kangas.
“These students were very clear about the theme they wanted, right from the start,” Oleksiak told us. “Summed up a word: Justice.”
Like last year, the five-week-long process began by helping students learn more about murals by viewing graphic presentations by photographer and author Robin Dunitz, and veteran mural artist Larry Kangas.
“Then, we brainstormed with the kids, to determine how they would visually interpret their theme,” Oleksiak said. “They voted — and Jackie Robinson was chosen as the central figure, around which we built the mural.”
Because this year’s mural would feature famous people, Oleksiak said she brought in Eduardo Fernandez. “Eduardo is really good at portraits and faces; he was selected to paint a formal portrait of Oregon Governor Kulongoski this year.”
Oleksiak also brought in Rin Carroll Jackson — perhaps best known to readers of THE BEE for organizing the Southeast Art Walk — to serve as the project’s Site Coordinator.
Five classes of eighth graders contributed ideas about what the mural might include, and gave design suggestions. “They did brush cleanup, wall preparation, and they painted-in many of the features. They were involved every step of the way,” Oleksiak revealed.
“These kids had great ideas,” Fernandez commented, as he looked at the finished mural. “It’s Jackie Robinson, the Dodgers’ baseball player who broke the ‘color barrier’. Behind him, in the ballpark’s grandstand, are dignitaries of justice, in time-line fashion, from left to right, cheering him on.”
Nolen marveled, “Where can you see Batman and Wonder Woman, along with Martin Luther King Jr. — all in one artwork? I think they succeed at illustrating their theme.”
Several of the students who worked on the project also said they enjoyed both the process and the finished mural. “I liked how much input we got to give. It wasn’t just like the adults deciding, or telling us what to do,” commented student artist Zola Walton.
“Through all of their grades, these eighth graders have been our ‘justice class’ — always wanting things to be fair. This piece of art they’re leaving is a wonderful legacy. I hope they come back to see it again, when they grow up,” said Principal Nolen, who will be retiring this month. (THE BEE will have a further article on that next month.)
The new mural, located indoors at the entryway to the school’s main gym, where many events are held, was made possible by a generous gift of materials and supplies from the Sellwood Miller Paint store, Nolen said.
