Lakewood High School Students Unveil New Mural at Library

In an inspiring collaboration, art students from Lakewood High School have created a vibrant mural that will soon be displayed at the Lakewood Public Library. The project, which incorporates elements of children’s literature, reflects the creativity and teamwork of the students involved.

The initiative began when the library approached Dayna Hansen, the Art Department Chair at Lakewood High School, during the summer. The library sought to showcase local student talent through a unique art installation. “They were just interested in creating an artwork that was made by local student artists,” Hansen explained. This mural represents the first time the library has commissioned artwork specifically based on student work.

Nancy Seibert, a member of the Lakewood Public Library Board of Trustees, emphasized the importance of public art within the library setting. She noted various artistic initiatives, including murals in the Grand Reading Room and sculptures around the children’s area. “We wanted the featured art over the staircase to be temporary and to be locally produced,” Seibert stated, crediting a long-time volunteer art consultant for the idea to involve advanced high school art students.

The project saw approximately a dozen students from Hansen’s Art 4 class collaborate over the academic year. They drew inspiration from a children’s book to create a mural that showcases their unique perspectives. “They have been working on it since August,” Hansen said. As part of their preparation, the students even took a field trip to the library to view the installation site, which is set to be unveiled on January 22, 2024.

The design of the mural features an open book with each student contributing a page, allowing them to explore themes from various children’s stories. The experience has been enriching for the students involved, as they navigated the challenges of working on a large-scale project.

Senior Adele Wentzel reflected on the collaborative nature of the mural creation, stating, “Making this mural was a very unique experience, as someone who’d never worked on something this large or this collaborative before.” She described the atmosphere during the project, with music playing and people bustling around, making it a dynamic and immersive experience.

Another senior, Ava Cox, acknowledged the pressures that came with the project. “I learned if an art medium does not work the way you want, you keep going until it does because then it turns out amazing,” she shared. Cox highlighted the importance of teamwork and the shared memories created through their dedication to the mural.

The completed mural will soon serve as a source of inspiration and a visual celebration of local talent at the Lakewood Public Library, enriching the community’s cultural landscape. As the students prepare for the unveiling, their collaborative efforts will not only enhance the library’s aesthetic but also foster a deeper connection between young artists and their community.