The Rainforest is Alive

     COVID-19 changed everything as we knew it. After a few weeks of wondering what one would do when all the best laid plans were put on hold I got a wonderful call from Arminta Elementary School.  Although we would not be able to work with children we could safely work on the mural we had planned months before. We finally got to do the rainforest mural that was on my wish list for years!  We enjoyed the morning shade on the wall, the peace in the neighborhood and the sound of scores of birds singing in the trees. There was no rush to finish so we just relaxed and enjoyed the moment in time this virus gave us    When the children do return they will be thrilled with the new addition to their yard  

 

Costa Rica

 March of 2020 saw us traveling through Costa Rica absorbing all the beauty of nature. While visiting family and trying to decide if we stay as planned or return early due to COVID-19 a family member thought we could brighten up their patio with a mural!  Why not?  A quick sketch, inspiration from the travels and all hands on deck!  Three days transformed this dull beige wall into a wonderful backdrop for entertaining or just relaxing in a hammock. 

Flournoy Elementary

   Once again Kaiser Permanente came through with great project to beautify a school in south central Los Angeles and called on me to help develop the idea and lead the execution of the mural part.  And again there were some new challenges and learning moments!  Flournoy Elementary School is just blocks from the famous Watts Towers and accordingly we wanted to include some element of mosaic in our mural. We also wanted to incorporate the school mascot, the tiger, as well as the name of the school with a backdrop of the L.A. area. Small order!  I kind of wanted to make a welcoming image of the tiger after all it’s already a jungle out there in the city.  School should feel safe and secure. Projecting the scaled drawing to the walls was the next hurdle since we only worked in daylight. But we finally got it drawn. In preparation for the big Kaiser work day, Martin Luther King Day, when some 50 people show up to work we had to outline every part of the mural and mark what color to paint each little part of the mosaic.  So different than previous murals!  I feel like every mural is more special than the last but they are each unique and special own. 

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Community Project

The fall of 2019 I met with my neighbor, Steven Payne, to plan his community project to become an Eagle Scout.  He wanted to return to his elementary school in Burbank to beautify the worn out handball courts at Edison Elementary.  The city thankfully replaced the worn out panels and primed them for us.  In a matter of one month we agreed on a environmental theme, drew the pictures, organized students and community volunteers and worked hard painting to finish it all by Halloween.  When all the parents came out to see their children in the parade they were blown away by the new murals shining brightly.  Burbank city sprayed them with a clear coat to protect them from UV rays and grafitti.

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109th Street School

Another school year began in 2018 and we began to plan for a STEAM lab at 109th St. Elementary in L.A.  Martin Luther King Day in 2019 fifty Kaiser employees and an equal number of community and student volunteers showed up to beautify their school.  My right hand man, husband Ricky, was there behind the scene washing brushes, refilling paint cups and keeping things flowing smoothly .