The Earth's Treasures

See Mural Madness if you missed the introduction of this residency before you read on.

Here are the student illustrations for the mural, "Earth's Treasures" and their vision boards.  I think it is hilarious that the students were thinking the vision boards were going to be our mural.  They were proud of their drawings and trusted my vision, but were completely caught off guard when they saw how I interpreted their illustrations on 2'x4' wooden panels.  Pay close attention to the images you see and see if you recognize them in the mural!
               
                     

The painting studio ran rather smoothly thanks to Tia Breckenridge, the school counselor.  She is an organizing guru, had the room smelling all good, made sure the students had passes to come during their scheduled workshop time, lead two after school sessions without me, was an amazing support through the whole process, and is sure to become a lifelong friend.  I got attached to these students too, I hope to work with them again soon.  It was an exhilarating experience.  Enter Mrs. D's studio:





And now it's finished!  I have so many pictures to share, I don't even know where to start.  Please watch the making of "Earth's Treasures" and enjoy the final results.  I am so proud of the students at John Hanson Montessori.  They are creative, focused, and fun!  They made me feel like a part of their family.


                   


Drum roll please.............

 Panel 1:  Sea life, Beaches, Islands, and Cliffs.    

Panel 2: Family, Orchards, Plains, and Mountains

Panel 3:  Faith, Humanity, Parks, and Recreation

Panel 4:  Education, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, 

Panel 5: Self Discovery, Milestones, Bays, and Bridges

Panel 6: Rural and Urban, Wildlife, Waterways, and Commerce 

Panel 7:  Roots, History, Culture

Panel 8:  Seasons and Agriculture

I wish that you could see the whole panorama in person, that you could have been to the best culminating event EVER, and met the ABSOLUTELY AMAZING students that participated and captured my heart with their AWESOME attitudes.  But, I guess you had to be there.

Here are a few pics from the amazing culminating event that really brought the John Hanson Montessori community together!  So many parents and supporters showed up including John Ceschini, the Arts Integration Officer of Prince George's County Public Schools.  We sat together and chatted about this awesome residency, upcoming projects, and our passion for arts integration. There was a sit down dinner buffet style, center pieces, and performance!  It was a true Art Gala with giveaways and cake!  The food was delicious!  And when they opened up the curtain to reveal the mural, I couldn't have been more proud.........

                    

Thank you John Watson, Briana Wallace, Teja T. Tops, Tanesha A. Stovall, Serenity Smith,
Destiny Smith, Taylor Scott, Haaliyah Aneese Scott, Donovan Ross, Princess Robinson, Shayne Richmond, Brittaney-Nya Payton, Manuel Joseph Orallo, Jordan Newkirk, Mariah Nelson, Mariah Nelson, Alicia L. Nelson, Breanna Miller, Medgar Mack, Kai V. Lindsey, Kourtney Lewis, Victoria Lanier, Mya Johnson, Jovan Jackson, Thomas Hedgepeth, Jordan Goodman, Jasmin Golson, Kourtney Garrett, K. Galloway, Nico Edwards, Ayanna Earl, Jarai Dumas, Genesis Dorsey, Elijah Dorsey, Nike S. Diggs, Jalisa Davis, Deonte' Davis, Ajani Colymore, Dahria Clement, Jayla Bobo, Jamare Blagmon, and Aniya Bell for answering the call and creating an EPIC mural for your school! 

And a special thank you to the Tia Brekenridge, Principal Pinder,  and the PTA at John Hanson Montessori for hosting me, and making this such a wonderful experience, you guys rock!

I LOVE MAKING MURALS!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Keep planting seeds 

Mural Madness

Over a year since I've posted.  Man.  Don't dwell Danyett.  I've done so much since last August.  It's been a heck of a year.  Exhausted but motivated to share the beginnings of my first mural this school year!

The following are pics from day four's workshop at John Hanson Montessori .  We spent the first 3 days developing images and creating the layout and design.  Now it's time to paint!  Everybody was shaking in their boots!  Hahah!  Paint is so intimating but a worthy challenger.  

The theme of the mural is "Earth's Treasures".  I love creating murals with students.  I'm not just the instructor but an active participant.  Murals are one of the most authentic community arts projects.  And I get to do me, which is the little strawberry on top.

I gave the middle school students a poem for inspiration.  I googled earth's treasures and found this little treasure  A Lunar Lament by: Anne Pedtke.  After I read the poem to the class for inspiration, I asked them to imagine that they were the moon looking down upon the earth, marveling at it's treasures.  What treasure's would make you a jealous moon?

They came up with some great sketches, which I pieced together into our mural composition, all from the moon's perspective.

Here are six of eight panels.  I love taking their sketches and turning them into one picture. They are always so shocked to see how all the pieces fit together.  They thought their vision boards were the mural!  I'll post those pictures next time.  Imagine the looks on their faces when they saw these.....

They were so tickled to see their ideas and sketches imagined through my eyes.  

And here are my little community artists at work to bring our masterpiece to life!

Mrs. D runs a tight ship but I Ron Clarked it!

  

Dearest Ron, 

Since I got that first peek into your head, I've been chasing that feeling I had when I came to visit your amazing school in every interaction I have with a child or educator. 

Dearest Jay the Magnificent,

I remember my first time being exposed to your process.  I remember thinking....this man is a diabolical genius.  The imagery that came out of your workshops were otherworldly.   I got caught up in those panels, it was magnificent, hence why I call you Jay The Magnificent.  And now I get to create these collaged universes where anything is possible with a totally awesome group of students of my own.

I want to be like those two when I grow up!  

I hope these young people could feel that magical vibe in the air that this kind of project can bring.  So grateful to Young Audiences for blessing me with this opportunity to serve communities that feed me with inspiration and fuel my passions daily.  

Now if I can just get them to be fearless....we are gonna have one humdinger of a mural and they will be left with a cherished memory and an experience they will never forget!