All nine of the Murray Murals are finished and will be unveiled on January 21st for all to see!
Each elementary school in Murray City limits created a mural that represented THEIR school – what makes it unique and what they ♥love♥ about it! Their artwork was combined with art from University of Utah undergraduate students, graduate students, BTSALP Visual Art Specialists, and University of Utah faculty members with input from Murray City representatives.
Murray City historical information and landmarks were included in each mural.
Many thanks to professor Kim Martinez for being the brain, beauty and BRAWN of the mural project! Kim was selected and recognized as one of Utah’s 15: The State’s Most Influential Artists. Read more about Kim and Utah’s 15 here.
Students from Murray School District junior high schools and Murray High School came to help with the painting.
Elementary students wrote poetry and narratives to describe the murals.
The finished murals will be carried in the Murray City 4th of July Parade and the parade on July 24th before they are permanently installed in each elementary school.
Britt Black, BTSALP Visual Art Specialist at Philo T. Farnsworth Elementary and Gerald L. Wright Elementary was featured on the Murray City website. Read all about Britt and her connection to Murray City below.
Britt loved to doodle and imagine all kinds of creative ideas when she was young but never paid much attention to art. While attending Hillcrest Jr. High, she was required to take an Art class from Mr. Kline. Although reluctant, she eventually decided to give her assignments a real try.
It was not until her older sister, Meghan, encouraged her to take Mr. White’s Drawing 1 elective class at Murray High, that she realized art was her niche. As she continued to learn more in Mr. White’s class, she would often tell her parents of her desire to be a professional artist. She grasped how to refine portrait drawings and sampled painting with oils for the first time. With Mr. White’s encouragement, she participated in an Art show for the first time. Following her passion, she continued taking art classes, including an AP art class from Mr. Moffet, who also offered her much support.
As she neared her senior graduation, Mr. White pulled her aside and said, “Brittany, I want you to know that art sometimes doesn’t click with everyone, but it does with you, so keep doing it.” Those words caused her to believe she was an artist and helped her stay the course at times she doubted herself.
After graduating from Salt Lake Community College, Britt was uncertain of her plans. She acquired a job as a paraeducator for an elementary school. As she assisted kids in reading and writing, teachers often solicited her aid in teaching art classes to their students. With a taste for teaching art, Britt returned to school at the University of Utah, taking education and art courses. However, once she attended the art classes, she terminated the education courses and focused on art full time. After four years she graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree. During her time at the university, she learned from several amazing professors and artists, including John Erickson, Sam Wilson, Alison Denyer, Tom Hoffman, John O’Connell, and Kim Martinez.
Britt continued learning, participating in many printmaking classes and additional education classes. Eventually, she became acquainted with the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP), where she began working as a paraeducator once again at the same elementary school. Another educator, Linda Williams, explained the Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL), where Brit could obtain a teaching license. That year she taught art five times a week to all the grades in a rotation as a para. As a result of her hard work and talents, Principal Joan Bramble offered her the BTSALP position. Now she has now been teaching in the BTSALP since 2016 and is close to achieving her teaching license through the ARL program.
“Art is what got me through it all, art and all the people who helped me along the way. It’s also incredibly validating to know that art is, what will get me to my future”
Britt Black
Visit Murray City’s website to read the rest of the article, “Connecting Lives on Canvas.”
Work continues on the murals for elementary schools in Murray School District. Follow along as we update this fascinating mural making process.
Images have been gathered and now the “fun” begins . . .
Scanning the images from the elementary students, combining them with artwork from university students, moving them around digitally and combining them with hand drawing is the next step in the process.
And the “fun” continues . . .
Compositions, layout, color palettes, and calligraphic line systems are finalized. Maquette drawings (a small preliminary model or sketch) are presented for input to representatives from Murray City.
University artists travel to Murray High School, Hillcrest Jr. High, and Riverview Jr. High
The mural process is explained to Jr/Sr High school students. Examples of murals were shown and students made suggestions on designs and gave input on the color palette.
Finally . . . PAINT!
Final maquettes are printed on smaller canvases and painting with the chosen color palette begins. When finished, these maquettes will be presented to the Murray City Council for final approval. They will then be printed on canvases that are 4′ x 8′. Keep watching for more of this process in the weeks to come!
