Client: The Giving Tree
Location: Bakersfield, CA, United States
Completion date: 2014
Artwork budget: $8,000
Project Team
Client
Amber Beeson
Client
William Penn Elementary School
Overview
7.5' x 27' at elementary school exterior stucco wall
Goals
The mission of this nonprofit was to place an organic garden in each elementary school in Kern County. The mural at the first school to participate was to put pride into the students and to advertise to the neighborhood and to the media that something special was happening.
Process
The collaboration with the director of the nonprofit was easy. The message was one that was easy to convey and it was one close to my own heart and values. The school was resistant and took a long time to get the "value".
Additional Information
One day I had three students helping me paint, which the director of the nonprofit arranged. These were students not doing as well in school. These students get plenty of punishment - probably at home, also - so I was happy to provide a space for reward just for "being". The style was more graphic on this mural so that they had lines in which to paint. They were a joy to work with.