“Remember: Life’s Seasons”, Dixon high school mural
During quarantine, I’ve been spending more time than ever in my studio. I feel fortunate to have large projects and commissions to work on while the world erupts around me. When I’m engaged in a large project like a mural, I feel very committed to it, and it’s usually the only thing I will work on until it’s complete. Even though this mural is short in height (3’2”) it’s about 60’ long, so I’ve divided it into 6 sections that I have been working on in my studio, 20’ at a time on my 26’ wall.
Honoring 3 high school students who would have graduated June 2020 and one teacher, their lives ending too soon, I’ve created a journey with imagery, using the 4 seasons as a life cycle guided by a gentle stream. Starting in the wintertime on the far left, one follows a stream of snowmelt and a trail that leads you to markers in these adventurous and intelligent teens’ lives. Collecting stories from the families and students who were their friends, I collaborated with Colleen and Jim Schneider, who are generously donating this mural to the high school and principal Stephanie Marquez to finalize an appropriate composition that will create a reflective sitting area in the Dixon high school quad. This mural will be installed in late July.
In my previous post, I shared the snowy mountains near Lake Tahoe on the far left of the mural. In the middle sections below, I’m introducing the journey from the winter to springtime, as the snow melts and gives way to wild poppies, , purple lupin and adventurous hiking and camping adventures. WE begin to see the lush crops of Dixon, CA in the background with Samantha Bloom’s AP Bio book and Jake SChneider’s pet chipmunk, Rocket.
Jacob Schneider and JAcob Hourmousuz were avid campers and hikers. Jacob helped his grandmother chase away a persistent raccoon off her front porch.
winter leads into spring….
Jake Schneider kept a chipmunk he named ‘Rocket’ in his dad’s truck for 3 days without anyone knowing about it. SAmantha Bloom’s favorite subject was AP Biology.