CMS/CNJ Article #7 / 2015-09-24 / ckk

Clovis News Journal / EDUCATION Column 2015-09-24 Article#7

Students Beautifying Main Street by Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy

“Clovis MainStreet,” a local non-profit, dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Clovis recently organized some Saturday art events to coincide with the Clovis Music Festival. The event included sidewalk sales, music, a sidewalk art chalk contest, and more. One unique event involved a number of our middle school students painting a mural and was headed up by Gina Davis, art teacher at Gattis Middle School. Partnering with Lisa Spear of Clovis MainStreet, they approached a local merchant, who provided the wall on the south side of their building at 4th and Main as the giant “canvas.” Davis shared details of the experience: “We used to have an art festival in conjunction with the music festival. When we talked with the owner of the store, she had a rough idea of what she wanted, so we did it!” Davis has been teaching for 22 years, first at Mesa Elementary that still bears murals and mosaics from past years, then moving to Gattis Middle School to teach art. Nine students were selected to participate with Davis, and they labored for five hours on Saturday to create the mural. Students participating were Jazlyn Salazar-Lucero, Gracie Rollins, Kenzie Gonzales, Darrell Lewis, Dillan Spear, Gemma Martin, Brandon Heath, Kelsey Hewins, and Graciela Montes. Davis continued, “We just really had a beautiful day. The kids were fun, and I was blessed. These kids that participated really enjoyed contributing to the community. They were honored and very proud to be included in this project. One of the students, Graciele Montes, actually played in a soccer game before the project. Afterwards, she came to paint with us, and then headed off to her next soccer game! Another student, Dillan Spear, also participated in the sidewalk art contest, taking1st place. Also, while we were painting the mural, several other merchants approached us about doing more murals.” For upcoming projects, Davis plans to take different groups of students so they will have an opportunity to participate in contributing to the community. Art students at Gattis have done several major art pieces, which will be hung in the main hall at Gattis Middle School; one, a painted paper piece, the other a collage made from tiny, torn magazine pieces, with 30 inspirational words hidden throughout. Albert Schweitzer said, “…the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools and can be reached at cindy.kleynkennedy@clovis-schools.org

CMS/CNJ Article #7 / 2015-09-24 / ckk

CMS/CNJ Article #7 / 2015-09-24 / ckk

CMS/CNJ Article #7 / 2015-09-24 / ckk

CMS/CNJ Article #7 / 2015-09-24 / ckk