Colorful Welcome Mural for John J. Montgomery Elementary

Back to News + Updates

ARTREACH WORKS WITH 6TH GRADERS AT JOHN J. MONTGOMERY ELEMENTARY ON COLORFUL WELCOME MURAL

THERE SAN DIEGO

JANUARY 2022

Click to read the article online

The ArtReach Mural Program’s recent mural is being unveiled at John J. Montgomery Elementary. Over 50 students helped inspire the design and paint the welcome mural. This serves as a contribution and legacy gift for their whole campus community. 

The Welcome Mural

The ribbon-cutting at the school is the culmination and celebration of the whole creative campus, as John J. Montgomery is an arts-focused and designated Turnaround Arts: California school.  Student speakers, and a special performance by the Opus Project with the San Diego Youth Symphony will also be highlighted at the event.

ArtReach, a not-for-profit arts education program, has been providing free or low cost in-class and mural instruction since 2007. They focus on Title 1 Schools that have no other resources for visual art education.

The Welcome Mural is the second ArtReach mural on campus. Both murals were designed by Tawianese-American artist, Liesel Plambeck. It features themes that are important to the community of John J. Montgomery- the arts, music, hope, community, the ocean, and school pride with the eagle mascot.

The designs were created using words, drawings and ideas from students as well as school staff during mural workshops. Each and every 6th grader at John J. Montgomery Elementary participated in the process of designing and physically painting the mural.

Dr. Lydia Burgos,  John. J Montgomery principal said:

“The ArtReach mural projects at Montgomery have united us around a shared value of caring.  Caring for each other and caring for our campus. The pandemic separated us and our murals allowed us to come together in an effort to have our spaces reflect who we are.  Educators and families know that students grow when they feel safe and seen.  Our murals are a reflection of that effort.”

Notable Partners:

About the ArtReach Mural Program:

The ArtReach Mural Program believes in the power of community and art to change lives and spaces. A mural provides an opportunity for people to work together while creating something transformative and lasting for their site. The ArtReach Mural Program works directly with youth at schools and community centers to dream-up large collaborative works that represent their vision.

For more information on ArtReach’s mural program, visit artreachsandiego.org/mural-programs or @artreachsd on social media.

You May Also Like:

ArtReach headquarters revitalizes abandoned building
Back to News + Updates Bright paint and artistic intent has transformed the abandoned building into the new headquarters of visual…
Read more
Ramona Community Foundation Grants $57,500 to Local Nonprofits to Build a More Vibrant Community
Back to News + Updates Ramona Community Foundation (RCF), a regional affiliate of San Diego Foundation, has awarded $57,500 to 15…
Read more
ArtReach San Diego Opens a New Community Art Studio in Hillcrest
Back to News + Updates ArtReach just dropped their latest masterpiece on the San Diego art scene—a brand new community art…
Read more