playground mural
Stage 1
Consultation with head teacher
Stage 2
A series of planning workshops conducted with nine children selected by the head teacher from Years 1 to 6. They were not chosen for artistic ability but because they would benefit from being involved in the project.
Stage 3
Children helped scale up the collaborative drawing and mark out the grid onto the playground.
Stage 4
Children, parents, members of the community and students from Reading College helped paint the mural.
The community spirit has been inspiring throughout this project. People have pitched in, both those with whom I was familiar and those who have become friends as a result of working together. Many have worked enthusiastically and tirelessly, most unnoticed. And it's been a laugh which is most important.
When the project hit a major problem because of the paint - and it seemed that it would all fail - some parents came to help me scrub back faulty areas and then repaint. No small feat when you're working across 290 sq m.
Several youths within Newtown's diverse community were antagonistic towards the project. It doesn't take much imagination to know why I dubbed them 'the rock throwers.' In the end, however, we had mutual respect for each other and still chat and share a laugh when we bump into each other.
Consultation with head teacher
Stage 2
A series of planning workshops conducted with nine children selected by the head teacher from Years 1 to 6. They were not chosen for artistic ability but because they would benefit from being involved in the project.
Stage 3
Children helped scale up the collaborative drawing and mark out the grid onto the playground.
Stage 4
Children, parents, members of the community and students from Reading College helped paint the mural.
The community spirit has been inspiring throughout this project. People have pitched in, both those with whom I was familiar and those who have become friends as a result of working together. Many have worked enthusiastically and tirelessly, most unnoticed. And it's been a laugh which is most important.
When the project hit a major problem because of the paint - and it seemed that it would all fail - some parents came to help me scrub back faulty areas and then repaint. No small feat when you're working across 290 sq m.
Several youths within Newtown's diverse community were antagonistic towards the project. It doesn't take much imagination to know why I dubbed them 'the rock throwers.' In the end, however, we had mutual respect for each other and still chat and share a laugh when we bump into each other.
