Two years ago, State High began to unveil new murals throughout the school corridors. Today, the murals stand in celebration of the art department’s influence on student growth and creativity.

While the mural projects are still ongoing, murals currently stand in the middle of each floor, with each mural representing a different theme.

Maure Irwin-Furmanek, Art Club advisor, oversaw the process of creating the murals. “[The murals] were just sort of replicating this, y’know, more fun, like bright colors and trying to bring a nice environment for students,” Irwin-Furmanek said. “I think it creates kind of a nice atmosphere for students, brightening up the hallways, lessening the sterile aspect of a large building. We try to create work that would be a kind of a feel-good environment for students.”

One student, Alpa Bhattarai, has noticed a significant impact on student morale. “I like [the murals]. I think they bring color and joy to the C pod,” Bhattarai said.

The process of making the murals themselves manages to bring elements of each Art Club member’s personal creations together into one. Each mural has different elements from each student who contributed to the mural that they were assigned to.

Lynette Hoffman, current Art Club President, was the vice president during the mural creations on the top floor of the C pod. Hoffman helped to secure the murals to the wall and was a part of the hands-on creative process of constructing and installing the murals. “We used this kind of wheat paste substance to stick it to the wall, and each individual student does their piece on paper before we apply it,” Hoffman said.

Apart from the creation of the murals, Hoffman has also noticed an improvement in students’ mood. Filling blank walls with colorful creations can help students immerse themselves in their school environment, making the school seem much more welcoming–even if students don’t realize it.

“I definitely think, like, subconsciously, bright colors and friendly designs around the school can sometimes bring a more positive atmosphere even if you don’t really realize it when you’re walking past, because I think you want to be more present in a place where there is color and creativity instead of somewhere that’s bland,” Hoffman said.

As the murals close in on their three-year anniversary, they stand as a reminder of the importance of art in school. By creating something that fosters positivity, Art Club members at State High have made a welcoming environment for students to enjoy.