Rosebank Elementary // Chula Vista
Mural Artist: Josué Baltézar
This mural was created with the Rosebank Elementary 6th grade class of 2023. This bold, bright, and beautiful design by Lead Artist Josué Baltézar (a Rosebank Elementary alum!) creates a stunning piece for this active area of campus.
In addition to painting the mural, the 6th grade students also had an opportunity to offer their own design ideas for what they wanted to see on this wall space. Drawing on inspiration from both students and staff, Josué created a scene of the Chula Vista landscape: the ocean, mountains, living coast, and joyful sun. The cresting wave imagery symbolizes forward movement and success, while the broader concept of water represents resilience and our shared humanity. The mirroring coral plants are symbols of community and oneness: working together to build something bigger than ourselves. Of course, the focal point of the mural is the mascot of Rosebank: the calm panther looking towards the horizon, instilling both school and individual pride in all students. Many 6th grade participants drew birds, which Josué included as a representation of hope and of each student’s unique flight and journey throughout elementary school and their future educational careers. Lastly, there are various different plants throughout, symbolizing transformation, growth, and diversity.
The five roses in this design each represent one of Rosebank’s 5 core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, and Perseverance. We hope that when students walk by this mural, they will be reminded of these 5 values and of their own potential for growth. This mural is a celebration of the legacy that Rosebank students are creating, and of the Rosebank community as a whole.
This project was made possible by the City of Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Library through the Create Chula Vista Visual Arts Grant and with support from Gensler San Diego. Read more
J. Calvin Lauderbach Elementary // Chula Vista
Mural Artist: Josué Baltézar
Welcome and Bienvenidos to J. Calvin Lauderbach Elementary! A school of transformation, growth, collaboration, and rootedness. Designed by Lead Muralist Josué Baltézar, who grew up in Chula Vista himself, this mural serves to welcome all to a bright and lively school community. Over 100 6th-grade students from the class of 2023 contributed their time, care, and focus on painting this mural. Not only did the participating students paint much of the wall, but they also helped inspire the design during ArtReach-led workshops by sharing their words, ideas, and drawings of what they could envision for the front of their school. The result is this stunning and colorful legacy mural, painted by their very own hands.
From left to right, we start with the larger-than-life, Opuntia (prickly pear cactus) which represents the strength and resilience that Lauderbach students and community carry within them. Joyful Papel Picado (perforated paper) with three birds rests above the door. These three birds not only symbolize journey and destination, but also distinctly stand for 3 generations of Lauderbach families and the deep-rootedness of this community as a whole.
The Lauderbach Cougar, representing school pride, sits and looks towards a hopeful and bright horizon, surrounded by the golden blooms of our state flower, the California poppy. Above the windows is an homage to the City of Chula Vista by a rendered visual tie to the city logo, further encompassing Chula Vista pride. Lastly, the word Bienvenidos (Welcome) can be seen right at the pickup/drop off area. This marks Lauderbach’s unique position as a dual language immersion school and also welcomes all to the Lauderbach Family. This imaginative mural is a bold reminder of what can be achieved when many people collaborate with care and connection. Above all, it is a reminder to all students that just like the powerful and growing Opuntia, they also carry within themselves their own potential for growth, transformation, and the ability to bloom.
This project was made possible by the City of Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Library through the Create Chula Vista Visual Arts Grant. Read more
Nativity Prep Academy // College Area
Mural Artist: Regan Russell
These murals were painted by 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students in an after-school program. Designed by Lead Artist Regan Russell, the murals welcome all to an uplifting, colorful, and transformative campus. Not only did the participating students help paint the mural, but they co-created the various imagery shown on the two mural walls.
The main mural wall shows doves in flight carrying olive branches. The doves symbolize the Holy Spirit and also double to represent peace. They are carrying the branches together, collaborating, illustrating the deep-rooted and connected Nativity Prep community and family. The doves fly toward the centered Guiding Star, which is also one out of eleven total stars on the main mural wall. Nativity Prep students are first generation students. Eleven stars represent Nativity Prep’s 11-year commitment, each representing one year of a student’s journey toward their college graduation. Lastly, the three crowns on the right give light and importance to the school’s mascot, The Magi. The Magi serve as a reminder to believe in blessings, trust the journey, follow our guiding lights and in doing so, create lives of opportunity, choice, and service.
Just around the corner, at the entrance to the Mentoring Space and adjacent to a cross, reads in big and bright letters: “You are Loved”. As a community of faith, love is a lived experience at Nativity Prep. All are welcome, all are loved.
This mural project was funded by the generous support of the Lawrence A. Appley Foundation. Read more
Conway Elementary // Escondido
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
This mural was led by Isabel Halpern and created with Conway Elementary students from the after-school YMCA Expanded Learning Program, LEGENDS. Not only did the participating students help paint the mural, but they helped come up with the imagery shown through the actions of the different figures. From left to right one can see different characteristics of EPIC (Excellence, Perseverance, Integrity, and Compassion) in action: planting seeds in the school garden, advocating for social issues in the community, following dreams through creativity, and helping each other up with care. A paper airplane, a direct student drawing, flies high in the sky and adds a playful element representing the journey of going after our aspirations. A big sun represents joy and hope and different natural elements can be seen throughout: sprouts growing into plants, water drops of rain, stars in the sky, rivers, hills, and butterflies. All of the figures show different examples of what it takes to build a better world- contributing to themselves, their community, and to each other with compassion and connection.
Which figure do you relate to most in this mural? Read more
St. Katharine Drexel Academy // College Area
Mural Artist: Nina Lubarsky
This mural was collaboratively painted and inspired by the St. Katharine Drexel Academy 8th grade class of 2023. Led and designed by artist Nina Lubarsky, this piece serves to welcome all to a peaceful and uplifting place of growth. A crucial step in the mural process was gathering words, ideas, themes, and actual drawings from the participating students and SKDA staff to help inspire the design imagery. Students drew various plants, trees, suns, and of course, their school mascot of the powerful phoenix.
A skilled and practicing printmaker, Nina Lubarsky rendered this design in the style of a carved relief print, echoing the ancient art of block printing. A mighty phoenix, symbolizing rebirth and transformation, is bursting with pride. Its wings stretched wide, it is set against a big sun- a perfect full circle that signifies family and unity. The rest of the mural is filled with native plants: the resilient and healing aloe vera and California coastal oak tree. Poppies are blooming, bees are buzzing, and sage grows energetically towards the sun. Located in the center of campus and facing the neighborhood community, it serves as a daily reminder to students of their own continued expansion and inner strength.
This mural was funded by Russo Properties, Ltd., College Area Community Council, and District 9 Arts, Culture & Community Festivals. Read more
Lemon Grove Academy Elementary // Lemon Grove
Mural Artist: Katy Yeaw
We take care of ourselves. We take care of each other. We take care of our community. This is the school-wide motto of Lemon Grove Academy Elementary. This mural was painted by over 75 students from the 6th grade classes of 2023. Led and designed by Katy Yeaw, this piece serves to welcome all to a colorful, uplifting, and compassionate campus. The participating students played a direct role in helping design this mural by giving their words, drawings, and ideas. They also contributed their care and focus by helping to physically paint much of the mural walls.
Throughout the mural imagery, we can see an abundance of self and community care. Watering the garden. Reading in solitude. The importance of family. Older students helping younger students as shown with the two tigers (big buddy and little buddy) walking together in unison. Birds in flight showing that everyone has the potential to soar. The abundance of plants and foliage symbolizes growth and transformation while subtle lemon tree imagery marks community pride in the City of Lemon Grove. In full, this mural is a daily reminder of the crucial practice of care and kindness. That students flourish here when surrounded by mutual, self, and community care. Read more
Mural Artist Apprenticeship Program // College Area Business District
Mural Artist: Chloe Moya
This storefront mural project is located on El Cajon Blvd in the College Area Business District. The mural was fully designed and led by Chloe Moya as part of the Mural Artist Apprenticeship Program. Chloe designed this mural with imagery inspiration from our client focusing on mid-century feels and geometric and organic patterns flowing smoothly along the trim. In partnership with the College Area Business District, ArtReach is thrilled to have added this energetic transformation to this neat little block which includes Little Fish Comic Book Studio and The Jazz Lounge. After assisting on 10+ projects, we want to congratulate Chloe for designing and leading her first project with ArtReach! Read more
Fred H. Rohr Elementary // Chula Vista
Mural Artist: Liesel Plambeck
Welcome to Fred H. Rohr Elementary! A school of transformation, growth, kindness, and collaboration. Led by Liesel Plambeck, this mural serves to welcome all to a special space.
Over fifty 5th and 6th grade students from the classes of 2022 contributed their time, care, and focus on painting this mural. Not only did the participating students paint much of the wall, but they also helped inspire the design through pre-painting mural workshops by sharing their words, ideas, and drawings for what they could see for the front of their school. The result is this stunning and colorful legacy mural stretching across the whole front of the campus.
This mural features lion pride with the larger than life school mascot of the Rohr Lion looking out to the horizon, but there is a lot more to be found in this work. The importance of our natural world can be seen with different flowers and a sea of jungle palms. All of these plants represent growth and the flowers serve to bring an uplifting and joyful feeling right as you enter the school. The big stars floating in the sky symbolize youth and collective goals and dreams. The word “Welcome” can be seen from far away and it is there of course, right at the front office, to welcome all to the Rohr Family. In all, this mural is a big reminder of what can be achieved when many people collaborate together with kindness and dedication.
This project was made possible in part by the City of Chula Vista and the Create Chula Vista Arts Grant. Read more
YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES ESCONDIDO HOUSING PROGRAM
Mural Artists: Donald Gould + Regan Russell
Resilient and larger-than-life desert plants of agave, aloe, prickly pear, and aeoniums grow tall from the earth. A topographical map pattern makes up the background. Calming yet bright colors throughout the design tie directly to the colors on each individual door in this apartment complex.
These murals were led and designed by artists Donald Gould and Regan Russell. While collecting design input from youth residents who live here, many residents answered with a variety of responses using their own art and words. Among their answers were drawings of plants, expressions of calm, of being on a journey, of meditation. One theme in particular kept emerging and that was the theme of resilience: “I was thinking of putting in a desert landscape- to show that even though the desert sometimes feels like there is nothing there, we go on living and go on surviving.” What we see is just that. Powerful desert plants grow strong together and the topography lines subtly allude to the many layers, paths, and future destinations of our collective and individual journeys.
Not only did youth residents help contribute with the mural design imagery, but they also physically painted the lower portions of the main wall during a Community Paint Day hosted by ArtReach. Through collective care and contribution, residents have this daily reminder of their own resilience while tending to, nurturing, growing, and planting their current and future dreams.
The ArtReach Mural Program and Mural Artists are honored to have helped contribute to the transformation of such an important home for current and future residents.
This mural was fully funded by the Lawrence A. Appley Foundation. Read more
MUSEUM SCHOOL // BANKERS HILL
Mural Artists: Isabel Halpern + Chloe Moya
Welcome to St. Paul’s Park! This mural was painted by The Museum School 1st grade class of 2022. Led by artists Chloe Moya and Isabel Halpern, this piece serves to welcome all to a colorful, bright, and joyful playground. The 1st grade students played a direct role in helping design this mural by sharing their words, drawings, and ideas. Not only did they help inspire the design, but they also helped paint the entire wall! The themes present in this design touch on sharing, collaboration, creativity, kindness, growth, and togetherness. Different hands can be seen across the wall- all engaged in various activities that further enhance these themes: growing a flower, holding hands in trust, making friends with a bird, and creating a drawing on paper. Every flower on this wall is the exact drawing from a 1st grade student and large, joyful, and colorful shapes make up the background.
As a legacy gift to their whole school community, the 1st grade artists painted this mural with excitement, care, and compassion. It serves as a big representation of a true neighborhood collaboration. St. Paul’s Senior Services offered the wall, The Museum School students helped paint it, and ArtReach brought it all together with design and project leadership. It reminds us of the importance of friendship and collaboration- that beautiful friendships grow out of helping and listening to each other. Read more
ROWAN ELEMENTARY // AZALEA PARK
Mural Artist: Hanna Gundrum
This mural was painted by the Rowan Elementary 5th grade class of 2022. Led by artist Hanna Gundrum, this piece serves to welcome all to a colorful and joyful campus. The 5th grade students played a direct role in helping design this mural by giving their words, drawings, and ideas. Some of the many images that students created were suns, roses, flowers, and the mascot of the roadrunner. As a legacy gift to their whole school community, the 5th grade artists painted this mural with care and compassion. It serves as a big representation of running fast after dreams. It reminds us of the importance of friendship and collaboration- that beautiful things grow out of listening to each other.
This mural was funded in part by Dahlin Group Architecture and the TahDah Foundation. Read more
TOLER ELEMENTARY // CLAIREMONT
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
This mural was painted by the Toler Elementary 5th grade class of 2022. Led by artist Isabel Halpern, this piece serves to welcome all to a colorful and joyful campus. The 5th grade students played a direct role in the design of this mural. During their mural design workshops, students created many of the images you see here using scissors, paper, and glue. Inspired by the paper cutouts of artist Henri Matisse, students used their imaginations to create all things under and above the ocean. Some of the many images that students made were an anglerfish exploring down below, jellyfish with long wiggly legs, a big tiger shark following a school of fish, a sailboat with the sweetest of sails, large collaged suns, and birds in flight. As a legacy gift to their whole school community, the 5th grade artists painted this mural with care and compassion. It serves as a big reminder and representation of all of the living beings that come from the sea. It reminds us of the importance of taking care of our environment and the big blue ocean which is mere blocks away from Toler Elementary.
This mural was funded by the Toler Elementary PTA. Read more
SYCAMORE CANYON ELEMENTARY // SANTEE
Mural Artist: Lucía Sánchez
The Sycamore Canyon Mural Club of 2022 painted this mural designed by multi-disciplinary artist Lucía Sánchez. This piece serves to welcome all to a colorful and transformative campus. The participating student artists played a direct role in the design of this mural. As a group, they decided collaboratively on different themes and images to help represent Sycamore Canyon. Various metamorphoses are seen throughout this mural: A caterpillar to a butterfly. A cub to a cougar. An egg to a chicken. A sycamore seed to a full-grown tree. These transformations reminds us that change is constant and that school is a place for growth. Hills, creeks, and lakes of the Santee landscape make up the soothing background. Morning turns to day and day turns to night. The big night sky reminds us all to look up and see what we can find up there: comets, planets, constellations, and an anchor to honor the military families of Sycamore Canyon School. It reminds us that any dream we can imagine, we can achieve. Read more
FLETCHER ELEMENTARY // LINDA VISTA
Mural Artist: Nazanin Amiri Meers
Books bring us to new worlds that we can only travel to through reading. The Fletcher Elementary 5th grade class of 2022 helped paint and design this mural. As a legacy gift to their whole school community, this wall is full of soothing colors and exciting adventures. Led by artist Nazanin Amiri Meers, this mural focuses on the importance and joy of reading. It shows that books can directly open the doors to learning, discovery, and imagination. The Fletcher Falcon rests peacefully in the center of the mural, observing the dreamlike scene. And what are the figures doing? Sailing on the sea, flying through the air on a pencil, reading in the grass, and reaching for the moon. It reminds us that we can achieve our dreams through education, hard work, and actively looking out toward the surrounding world. Read more
SAN ALTOS ELEMENTARY // LEMON GROVE
Mural Artist: Hanna Gundrum
The 6th grade class of 2022 at San Altos Elementary helped paint and design this 4-wall mural. As a legacy gift to the whole school community, these four walls celebrate growth, exploration, and transformation. Led by artist Hanna Gundrum, the mural spans the four main buildings in the center of campus, adding a joyful and colorful backdrop to student activities. The hummingbird and Yin-Yang motif were taken directly from student design input and also serve as a reminder of the importance of peaceful balance. In honor of San Altos’ tradition of the yearly release and study of monarch butterflies, the butterfly on Wall 2 symbolizes constant growth and transformation. The school mascot, a coyote, can be seen exploring the desert landscape in Wall 1. Surrounded by stars and the moon, this mural art reminds all students to keep exploring and to keep going after their dreams. Read more
Monterey Heights Elementary // Lemon Grove
Mural Artist: Milan Finnie
Monterey Heights 6th grade class of 2022 contributed their designs, skills, and creativity as a legacy gift to their whole school community. Led by artist Milan Finnie, this piece celebrates growth and transformation. The mural features plants native to Lemon Grove – many taken right from this very campus of Monterey Heights: Crown Daisy, Indian Blanket, Musky Stork’s Bill, and the Small Philippine Acacia. The artful plants help connect us to the surrounding environment while also emphasizing the importance of taking care of our earth and the natural world.
This mural also incorporates key elements of Monterey Heights STEAM subjects – all drawings by 6th grade student artists: a cassette tape, a beaker, and even Tetris pieces. Gears clicking, experiments bubbling, a paintbrush ready for canvas, and a song waiting to be heard. The bright sun focal point brings joy and hope to all who see it while the Tetris pieces are on a journey of finding their way and falling into place.
What plants and flowers from the mural can you find on your school campus?
This mural was funded in part by the TahDah Foundation. Read more
John J. Elementary // Chula Vista
Mural Artist: Liesel Plambeck
Welcome to John J. Montgomery Elementary in Chula Vista. This pop of color on the wall is the first thing you see as you walk into school. Designed by Liesel Plambeck, this welcome mural was painted by the entire 6th grade class.
The students also helped inspire the mural imagery through pre-painting mural workshops. Repeating themes of ocean, sun, waves, and palm trees were seen in the student drawing ideas. Many students also drew their school mascot of the eagle as you can see flying across the sun. With Montgomery being an arts-focused school, this is represented with the paintbrush imagery.
The 6th grade students did such an amazing job on their legacy project. What a beautiful gift to give before going to middle school.
This mural was funded in part by Turnaround Arts: CA. Read more
Pacific View Leadership Elementary // Paradise Hills
Mural Artist: Hanna Gundrum
This mural was started in March of 2020. It was put on hold due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and was finally completed two years later. All of the imagery in this mural, designed by Hanna Gundrum, was inspired by student words and drawings. This bright and uplifting mural is a symbol of perseverance and resilience. A beacon of hope and optimism. After two difficult years, ArtReach and Pacific View Leadership Elementary were able to come together at last. In person and in collaboration, this was a huge community effort to bring this project to life. Over 40 students from the Pacific View 5th grade class of 2022 helped paint this mural. They worked with focus and care and painted almost the entire bottom half. The imagery touches on themes of nature, acceptance, welcomeness, communication, music, reading, and going after our dreams.
Looking at the mural, what do you see? What images bring you hope and happiness?
This mural was funded in part by the TahDah Foundation. Read more
Mt. Everest Academy // Clairemont
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
Mt. Everest Academy’s very own 133-foot long mural welcomes both students and neighbors alike to an accepting, colorful, and transformative campus. This was the ArtReach Mural Program’s first big mural. It was painted and helped designed by a group of seniors at the school. Led by Isabel Halpern, over 50 people helped paint this mural- from staff to families to younger students. Sun to Sun celebrates collaboration, transformation, growth, acceptance, and community. It serves as a hallmark project for the ArtReach Mural Program. Read more
SCAIR // Old Town
Mural Artists: Donald Gould + Regan Russell
Led by Regan Russell and Donald Gould, this mural is located in the Sa’mall Lly Hapsh Garden space located at the Ballard Parent Center in Old Town, San Diego. Bold colors and powerful imagery celebrate and honor the local Kumeyaay culture. For six weeks, 12-15 youth and families from The Southern California American Indian Resource Center (SCAIR, Inc) met with the artists to learn about mural making from start to finish.
Inspired by local Kumeaay culture, the mural incorporates imagery pertaining to the local landscape, culturally significant and sacred items, Native stories, as well as tobacco plants. SCAIR’s Sacred Pipe TUPE Program emphasizes the difference between commercial tobacco and ceremonial tobacco, and overall health and wellness for Native youth. This project is an opportunity for visitors to the Old Town area to better understand the customs, traditions and values of local Kumeyaay people who were the original inhabitants of the land Old Town sits on. This mural serves as a legacy project and helps contribute to the growing visibility of American Indian culture in the larger community. Read more
YMCA Oz // Clairemont
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
YMCA Oz is a special space that provides healing and unification to youth and their families through a residential program. This program helps teens and their families who are experiencing personal, school or family difficulties as well as runaway or homeless youth seeking a safe place. Part of their enrichment includes art making.
Youth and staff from YMCA Oz came up with various themes and imagery of what Oz meant to them: waves, poppies, helping hands, home, water ripples, and asleep vs. awake. All can be found in their new 109-foot long mural that stretches the whole backyard. Led by Isabel Halpern of ArtReach, the youth not only helped with the design; they also primed the wall and spent many hours painting every last inch of it. Over 60 people worked on this mural including additional staff volunteers from YMCA Youth and Family Services. A true collaborative effort. Rich colors, calming shapes, and intentional symbols make up the flow of the mural. The greens throughout were chosen to represent Emerald City and to double as the designated mental health awareness color. From one side of the wall to the other, one can see many repeating water ripples, 100 exactly. Each water ripple represents 100 people making a total of 10,000 people. YMCA Oz, approaching their 50th anniversary soon, has impacted 10,000 people over the last 50 years. The ArtReach Mural Program is honored to show this ripple effect and to have created alongside youth and staff from Oz, bringing their ideas and visions onto the wall. Read more
Carson Elementary // Linda Vista
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
What makes your heart happy? Students at Carson Elementary were asked this question on their first day of Mural Club. After getting paper shapes and scissors, the kids responded by making planets, sailboats, robots, trees, fruit, rocket ships and more. Much of what they made was directly transferred into the design of their new fun and playful mural. The ArtReach Mural Program prides itself in involving students in mural making from concept to completion. We absolutely love, for example, how we, adults, could have never made a palm tree like the one you see here. Only a kid could have placed those palm shapes ever so freely. Paper shapes made by hands, now painted by those same hands on the wall. Robot lemon moonbeam dreams.
In addition to designing and painting their mural, students also were engaged in individual take-home art projects during the Mural Club. As with all of our murals, we celebrated when it was finished by having a ribbon cutting and unveiling event. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and teachers/staff from the Carson school community came together to celebrate the youth who added new art to their school. Each student got their own certificate and there was much joy to be had. Hooray Mural! Read more
the carl. // Linda Vista
Mural Artist: Hanna Gundrum
This mural was commissioned for the roof hang out area of a new USD off-campus student housing apartment complex called the carl. A mix of geometric shapes and patterns with plant and wave-y feels, it adds a bright and fun backdrop to those hanging out up on the roof. Designed by Hanna Gundrum, this mural included our first ever teen apprentice who assisted on painting from start to finish. Read more
El Nido // City Heights
Mural Artist: Lulu Yueming Qu
El Nido in Spanish means The Nest. A place of safety, shelter, and of home. This mural is located in the multi-use computer room and classroom space at a local women’s shelter. It was designed by Lulu Yueming Qu with design input and painting assistance by two teens who live at El Nido. For the design, we discussed themes of home, growth, light, and strength, while also acknowledging the ups and downs that come with life. The purple lines, influenced by Lulu’s study of traditional Chinese painting, serve as a connector between all of these themes. Purple is also the color for domestic violence awareness and the community is lucky to have this safe space which provides housing and social services to women and their families as they transition to permanent housing. Read more
Vista La Mesa Academy // Lemon Grove
Mural Artists: Donald Gould + Regan Russell
One unified cheetah. The mascot of Vista La Mesa Academy runs across the wall. Composed of multiple pieces of different shapes, sizes, and colors, the cheetah represents the harmony, togetherness, and diversity of the school’s community. Lemon tree foliage of moving leaves and budding blossoms symbolize growth and transitions while also giving homage to the city of Lemon Grove’s agricultural ties and history. Designed by Regan Russell and Donald Gould, this mural was inspired directly from drawings and words submitted virtually by the students and staff. During a time where meeting in person was not an option, ArtReach and Vista La Mesa Academy were able to come together to bring light and joy to the front and center, welcoming students back to school with cheetah pride, hope, and unity. Read more
PRIDE Academy // Santee
Mural Artist: Hanna Gundrum
A lightbulb of color. A caterpillar inching through the rain to become a butterfly. A strong and sturdy anchor. An anatomical heart with patterns of flowers. These are some of the many images and symbols that make up this two-wall youth-designed and painted mural. Hanna Gundrum led the 7th-grade students to work together to come up with the stunning imagery. They contributed their time, care, and focus in helping paint these two large walls from top to bottom. This mural adds bright positivity, bold color, and uplifting feelings, serving as a welcoming addition to the upper part of campus and nearby preschool. Leaving a lasting gift and contribution to their school community, the 7th grade class of 2020/21 truly came together to share their ideas and collaborate on new hope and perseverance during this unique and difficult year. What symbol or section do you connect to most on this mural? Read more
John J. Montgomery Elementary // Chula Vista
Mural Artist: Liesel Plambeck
Musical instruments, eagles, rainbows, hands, and people looking out together in unity. These are some images from the many drawings students submitted from home to help inspire the design of this mural, led Liesel Plambeck. Sifting through their drawings and words and hearing from Montgomery staff, it was clear to Liesel that this school is a special space. One of togetherness, one of family, of school pride, welcomeness, collaboration, and diversity. Furthermore, it was evident that the Montgomery school environment places immersive importance on the arts. Almost every other drawing collected from students contained a musical instrument, a hand, or a paintbrush. ArtReach wanted to show this collective story through this mural. A story of students united together, looking to the creativity in the horizon, to a new day, to all perspectives and ways of seeing.
This mural was funded in part by Turnaround Arts: CA. Read more
San Miguel Elementary // Lemon Grove
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
Designed by Isabel Halpern, this mural serves as a welcome back piece to students returning to school after over a year of distance learning. Inspired by words and drawings collected from students, staff, and families, and by the 8 Leader in Me habits, the imagery in this mural inspires students and staff alike to look towards each other with a sense of calm, balance, synergy, leadership, acceptance, and collaboration. Symmetrical plants and budding prickly pear cacti remind all that growth and transformation are possible and constant. We hope that students can see themselves in the figures, excelling in the arts, offering seeds of ideas, and forming leadership, together around the bright light of learning. Read more
San Altos Elementary // Lemon Grove
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
San Altos is a school of transformation, growth, acceptance, and kindness. Led by Isabel Halpern, this mural serves to welcome all to a special space. Over forty 6th grade students from the class of 2021 contributed their time, care, and focus on painting this mural.
The mural features coyote pride with the mascot front and center, but there is a lot more to be found in this work. The importance of our natural world can be seen with different California landscapes: wetlands, deserts, mountains, and oceans. Lemons are a tribute to Lemon Grove and the great California state flower of the poppy is sprinkled throughout. The mural also highlights transformation with the life cycle of the butterfly. How many caterpillars can you find on the wall?
San Altos staff, during a staff-wide design input meeting, wanted to emphasize a big focus on literacy and reading through book imagery. Reading can help you soar, it can help you fly. But most importantly, there was a need for showing inclusion, kindness, and acceptance. Puzzle pieces, representing the symbol of students with special needs are represented in the mural while a small butterfly rests on the nose of the coyote. This is a school where coyotes and butterflies can be and are friends. Where all students are accepted and an important piece of the puzzle that completes and makes San Altos the special school that it is. Read more
Chet F. Harritt School // Santee
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
This mural was designed and painted by a group of 7th and 8th grade artists. Led by Isabel Halpern, this mural serves to welcome all to a colorful and transformative campus. The students played a direct role in the design of this mural. As a group, they decided collaboratively on four themes that represent Chet : The Cheetah, Nature of Santee, STEAM, and Togetherness/Kindness. After deciding on the themes, smaller groups of 2 or 3 students, each got to then work on specifically what goes inside each letter with their corresponding theme. The groups spent much time and care and focus sketching out their ideas and drawings for what should go inside each letter. What we see and what they came up with is the Chet Cheetah in “C” looking out towards the horizon- to the beautiful nature seen in Santee and on field trips to Big Rock Park (“H”). The “E” shows all of the elements of Chet being a proud and thriving STEAM school, with math, technology, art, engineering, and science symbolism. And lastly, the “T” shows togetherness. Holding hands reaching out in support, acceptance, and collaboration. A closed eye breathing through difficult times, with tears as raindrops watering and changing into the hope and newness of a growing flower. Read more
PRIDE Academy // Santee
Mural Artist: Hanna Gundrum
This bright, bold, and colorful garden mural celebrates growth, transformation, healthy eating, and nature! Hanna Gundrum led the 8th grade students to work together to come up with much of the imagery seen here: bright daisies, strawberries with bites taken out of them, a camouflaged gecko, and more. The 8th grade mural artists spent 4 paint sessions painting the majority of this long stretch of wall with focus, creativity, enthusiasm, and care. This mural is a reminder of the benefits of teamwork : it could not have happened without everyone working together in collaboration. This work serves as a legacy piece for the 8th graders: a contribution and gift to PRIDE before they leave for high school. As the seasons change, new seeds will be planted, and new growth will occur. This big new mural will continue to help cultivate this garden space as one for reflection, gathering, and tending the earth. Read more
REACH Academy // El Cajon
Mural Artists: Donald Gould + Regan Russell
Did you hear about the rose that grew
from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature’s law is wrong it
learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared.
-Tupac Shakur
This mural was painted by the REACH Academy summer class of 2021. Led by Donald Gould and Regan Russell, it is composed of modular sections containing different imagery, themes and symbolism. The duality of night and day, light and dark, can be seen as the focal point with the sun and moon centered on the doors. The natural landscapes surrounding El Cajon and San Diego as a whole are seen with the forest, ocean, and mountain imagery. Zig-zag, wavy, and flowing patterns designed by REACH students during mural-design input classes balance out the representational imagery. Light seeps through even the strongest of brick walls. Clouds and water are always moving and changing. A fist bump of collaboration speaks to the crucial teamwork needed to create such a large work of art. And lastly, a big and beautiful rose grows out of the cracked concrete ground. It is a reminder to all of hope, resilience, and perseverance. Read more
Mural Artists: Donald Gould + Regan Russell
Designed by Regan Russell and Donald Gould, this vibrant mural was painted by over 20 community members and veteran residents as a collaborative effort to help bring a sense of color, beauty, calm, and peacefulness to this gathering space. The symmetrical elements help create a grounding feel as the design blends into the surroundings and opens up the space.
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument references the local historic landmark, acting as a beacon home and guiding light. Scattered in the foreground, the red poppies are often seen as a symbol of sacrifice and worn to honor those who have fallen while protecting our country. Additionally, the flowers serve as a symbol of peace and continued hope for the future.
Thank you to all Veterans of the armed services here in San Diego and beyond.
This mural was funded by MFRG-ICON Construction. Read more
Valley Elementary // Poway
Mural Artist: Isabel Halpern
This mural was inspired and painted by the Valley Elementary Fifth Grade Class of 2022. As their legacy gift to their whole school community, each and every 5th grade artist painted with care, focus, and heart. Designed and led by Isabel Halpern, movement, play, growth, language, connection, and heart are the main themes that can be seen. While looking at the mural, one can read the welcoming greetings of “Hola,” “Haawka,” and “Hello” which speaks to the importance and uniqueness of Valley being the only dual language immersion school in Poway Unified. If you didn’t know, “Haawka” means “Hello” in Kumeyaay. The Kumeyaay are the original people on the land that Valley sits on. We acknowledge the Kumeyaay with this word as well as some of the native plants in the area- yucca, agave, and the prickly pear cactus.
A large anatomical heart is nestled in student-drawn flowers. The “threads of kindness” emerge and flow throughout the mural, serving as a connecting thread and finish line for the running figures. This celebrates achievement, movement, goal setting, and going after our dreams. Above all, it serves as a reminder to treat all with our hearts first and with kindness.
This mural was funded in part by the TahDah Foundation. Read more
Hill Creek School // Santee
Mural Artist: Milan Finnie
This mural was painted by students from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes of 2022. Led by multi-disciplinary artist, Milan Finnie, it spans over 60 feet of bright colors, geometric patterns, and symbolic imagery. Inspired by the participating student’s drawings and ideas, this scene is one of learning, growing, tending, joy, and balance. As we are situated in the lunch area, the center garden piece reminds us all of healthy eating, taking care of the earth, and taking care of our very own Hill Creek school garden. A large book underneath the tree, on the left side of the wall, represents growth through life-long learning. A bright sun and moon mirror each other and serve as a reminder of the importance of having balance in life. The sun and moon also speak to life cycles, the power of imagination, and going after our dreams. Pawprint patterns of the Hill Creek Bulldog can be found throughout the mural, walking along the road of learning, growth, and community. Read more
Corner of Park & University // Hillcrest
Mural Artist: Regan Russell
Designed by Regan Russell, this intricate mural truly brightens up the corner of Park and University right where Hillcrest and North Park meet. Composed of isometric patterns, bold shapes, and popping colors, the 3-D feels of the design makes passersby feel as if they are walking through a colorful maze.
We can’t tell you how many people from the community stopped to talk to us while painting, to tell us how much it meant to now see this burst of color on their daily walk or from their apartment window. This project couldn’t have happened without all of those who helped and volunteered their time. Read more
