Safe to Learn
  • About
    • Why Safe to Learn? >
      • Page 2 - Why School Safety?
      • Inspiring Quotes
      • Thank You...
    • Leading Safety >
      • Select one action item to support the Safe to Learn Community Project
      • Incorporate Safe to Learn
    • Safe to Learn
    • Safe to Learn Community >
      • Mission & Values
      • Background: Safe to Learn Pilot Project
      • How Are the Children?
      • Reflections: Education & Safety
      • Educators Q&A: "Why be part of Safe to Learn?
      • Saving School Safety
      • Let's Be Safe
    • Quick Views >
      • Principals Quick Views
      • Teachers Quick Views
      • Directory Quick Views
    • Advisory Council >
      • Chate Asvanonda
      • Dr. Nancy Degnan >
        • Uncommon Sense, Uncommon Courage
      • Renee Domingo >
        • School Safety Standards
      • Kim Colella >
        • A Musical Journey to Africa
        • Kim Travles to Africa
        • Kim's Photos from Africa
      • Dr. Tom Horton >
        • 1923 Cleveland School Fire was Catalyst for School Fire Drills
      • Kay Karr >
        • Why Plan?
        • Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike
      • Avagene Moore >
        • My Dream of “A Nation Prepared”
      • Sgt. Tracy Moore
      • Captain Jim Olsen >
        • School Shootings - What Have We Learned
        • Let's Listen - School Shootings
      • Barbara Thurman
    • Safe to Learn Teams >
      • Our Team & Contributors >
        • Dee Beaugez, Founder >
          • Interview Q&A
          • About Safe to Learn >
            • Preparedness Experience
          • Real Images
        • Donald J. Beaugez >
          • Technology Expereince
        • Diana Savage
        • Jessika Savage
        • Elizabeth Hall
        • Patti Lowry-Parrish
        • Kanun Andrade
        • Jorge J Martinez >
          • A Gateway to Freedom
      • Pilot Project Team - LCISD >
        • About the Safe to Learn Pilot Project
        • Thank You - Lamar CISD Principals & Assistant Principals
        • Balancing School Safety and Academic Goals
        • Irma Nurre
        • Sonya Sanzo
      • Safe to Learn Authors
    • Authors
    • Authors In the News >
      • Phillip Martin - In the News >
        • The Mural Man - Liberia
        • Help African Teachers Expand School and Clinic
        • Mural Man - Moldova >
          • #1 TV Interview
          • #2 TV Interview
          • #3 TV Interview
          • #4 TV Interview
          • #5 TV Interviews
        • The Mural Man Series Begins
        • A Taste of My World Cookbook
      • Rick Tobin - In the News >
        • Ten Tips for Safer Schools Series
      • Authors Press Releases
    • Media & Press Releases >
      • TEPSA Conference 2016
      • Three Questions June 2016
      • Authors Press Releases
      • Advisory Council Press Releases
      • About Safe to Learn
    • eBook Submission Guidelines >
      • eBook Submission Requirements
  • Blogs
    • Wander My World With Me by Phillip Martin >
      • 2018 - 2016 Directory Wander My World With Me
      • Introduction - I Draw
      • Faces in the Crowd Logo
      • Help African Teachers Expand School and Clinic
      • Wander My World - Liberia -eBook Helps Fund School
      • About Murals for U.S. Embassy Ebola Survivors Project in Liberia
    • Safe to Learn by Advisory Team and Authors >
      • Dream of A Nation Prepared
      • About the Masai Warriors
    • Golden Navigator by Sage West
    • Ask Tiffanie - Seasonal Foods and More >
      • Tiffanie's Invitation
      • About Tiffanie Boldizsar
    • Nurse Stitches
    • Authors Blogs >
      • Authors Blog Directory
    • Honoring Mourning and Remembrance
    • Preparedness Perspectives >
      • Preparedness Directory
      • Flooding in Texas
    • What Have We Learned? >
      • Directory 2016 - What Have We Learned?
      • Let's Listen - School Shootings
    • Inspiration for Life
  • Let's Guide Safety
    • School District COOP
    • Principles for Principals >
      • Leading the Way to School Safety
      • Reflections >
        • The Day After 9/11
        • Observations
        • Be Prepared and Be a Leader
        • Communication is Key
        • New Safety Checklist
        • Practice, Practice, Practice
        • Note to Ada
      • Author Ada Rosario Dolch
      • It Takes Time & Practice
    • Keeping It Real >
      • Building School Response Teams >
        • Lucien Canton, CEM
    • Response to Violence >
      • The Best Response to Violence in Your School Is the Response which Never Has to Happen >
        • Dr. Cathy Anthofer
        • Links and Resources
    • Ten Tips for Teachers for Safer Schools >
      • Elementary Schools
      • Middle & Junior High Schools
      • High Schools
      • A Great Starting Point
      • Rick Tobin
    • Color Me Safe Series >
      • Patti Parrish >
        • Pet Safe - All Seasons
        • Keep Pets Disaster Safe
        • Lucky Dog's Message
        • Lucky Dog Rap
      • Denise Langston
    • Forever Hope >
      • Fulfilling a Dream >
        • About Vickee Greer
    • 2016 Authors Inspiring Safety & Awareness
    • 2016-2017 Authors Inspiring History & Leadership
  • Safety Series
    • Invest 1 Hour a Month to be Safe to Learn
    • Principles for Principals by Ada Rosario Dolch
    • #1 - Safety First
    • #2 - Calendar >
      • Safe to Learn 2016-17 Calendar
    • # 3 - Fire Drills >
      • 1923 Cleveland School Fire was Catalyst for School Fire Drills
      • Fire Drills Prepare Students for Real-Life Incidents
      • Outstanding Safe to Learn Pilot Project for 2014-2015
    • #4 - Building & Campus Safety
    • #5 - School Response Teams
    • #6 - Tips for Teachers
    • Why Plan? Documentary >
      • Why Plan? For Sale
    • Future Safety Series
  • Teachers Tools
    • About Health Equity Project >
      • Waiting for Health Equity
      • Start a Conversation about Health Equity
    • The Door - A Must for the School Year >
      • More About - The Door
    • Tsunami K-6 Curriculum
  • Let's Read
    • STORE
    • Wander My World - Liberia -eBook Helps Fund School
    • Let's Read Authors
    • Contact Safe to Learn About Volume Orders
    • Let's Read - Books >
      • What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada & Illustrated by Mae Besom >
        • Resource: Examples of Lessons Plans Based Around "What You Do with An Idea"
      • The Mitten by Jan Brett >
        • Sheir Loy Reads "The Mitten" to Help with Safety
      • Sleep Ponies by Gudrun Ongman
      • Garbage Bag Suitcase
      • A Long Walk to Water >
        • Links - Linda Sue Parks
      • What Color is Your Parachute for Teens
      • Helping Traumatized Children
      • Let's Be Prepared Resources
    • Let's Read Educators
  • Let's Talk
    • Start a "Let's Talk" Round Table Discussion >
      • Let's Brew a Cappuccino
      • Every Child Needs a Champion
      • Foster Care & Garbage Bag Suitcase >
        • More about Garbage Bag Suitcase
      • "Why Plan?" Documentary
      • 9/11 Webinar 9/13/2016 >
        • New York 9/11/2015 >
          • Let's Talk 9/11/2015 - Stand with Me Today
          • New York 2015 - 9/11 Images
          • Remember 9/11 by Phillip Martin
      • Documentary Films >
        • Let's Talk - Most Likely to Succeed
        • Let's Talk - Beyond Measure
        • Let's Talk - Paper Tigers >
          • Educational Versions
          • ACEs/toxic stress color wheel
        • Let's Talk - The Cats of Mirikitani >
          • The Cat Who Chose to Dream
          • Asian American History
      • Distracted Driving Awarenes
      • Discovery Education MS 88 Brooklyn NY
      • Bullying Though the Eyes of a Child
      • Kindess Matters Campaign
      • Let's Listen - School Violence
      • Let's Talk - Safe to Learn >
        • How Are the Children?
        • Reflections about Safe to Learn
        • Why Safe to Learn?
      • Let's Talk - Safety >
        • Active Shooter
        • Make A Difference
        • Emergency Preparedness for School
        • Incarceration >
          • Incarceration - Links and Resources
        • Natural Disaster - Lessons Learned
        • Teaching 9/11
        • Violence in Schools
        • Violence Prevention Resouces
        • Cure Violence
      • Let's Talk - Social Issues >
        • Homeless Students >
          • Homeless Youth Resources
        • Helping Hunger
        • Human Trafficking in Schools
    • Health Equity Issues
    • Share Your Ideas
  • Free
    • Free Graphics for Teachers
    • Presentations for Teachers
    • Free Art Lesson Plans
    • Free Coloring Books
    • Websites for Teaching and Learning
    • Original Stories
    • Safe to Learn Calendars
    • Safe to Learn Drawing
    • FREE Seasonal Recipes >
      • ​Cumin-Jalapeno Black Bean Soup
      • Pies by Barbara
      • Healthy "Ice Cream" Treats
  • Links
    • Suggest a Link
    • Animals and Children >
      • Pasado's Safe Haven
      • The Gentle Barn
      • Red Rover Readers
      • Travel the World & Learn Kindness to Animals
      • Animal Stories & Books
    • Children, Education & Safety Resouces >
      • Linda Lantieri
      • Resilience Resources
    • Let's Talk - Preparedness >
      • Emergency Plans
      • Incident Command System
      • FEMA Trainings
      • Earthquake and Tsunami Resources >
        • The Really Big One
      • Distracted Driving Awareness
      • School Bus Safety Resources
      • Fire Drills
      • School Safety Resouces
    • Homeless Youth
  • Leadership
    • Inspiring Leaders >
      • Every Child Needs a Champion
    • In Memoriam >
      • Principal Susan Jordan
  • Amazing Educators
    • Every Child Needs a Champion
    • Sheri Loy's Innovative Lockdown Solution
    • Miss Julie Inspires Safety >
      • Julie Kennedy, Teacher/Educator
      • Outstanding Safe to Learn Pilot Project for 2014-2015
    • Let's Sing >
      • Nancy Stewart, Founder of Sing With Our Kids >
        • Sing With Our Kids - Nancy's Pilot Project and Free Resources Website
        • Nancy Stewart Free Website Resources
        • Why Sing? The 5 Practices of Early Literacy
        • Safe to Learn - Let's Sing Excellence in Education Award Winner 2015
    • Let's Sign (ASL) >
      • Nancy Hanauer, Founder Hop to Signaroo ® >
        • Babies Can Communicate
        • Signing for Social and Learning Skills
    • Educators in the News >
      • Abigail's Plan
      • 10 Minutes of Compliments >
        • Special Books Project
      • Inspiring Student with Music & Songs
  • Let's Explore
    • Phillip Martin - The Mural Man >
      • Directory of Murals
      • Let's Explore Mural Man Series
      • Murals #43 and #44
      • Mural #14 - Don't Let Drugs Take You for a Ride!
      • Murals #6, #7 & #35
      • Food Pantry - Ohio, USA
      • Mural Man' Phillip Martin
      • Artist Phillip Martin
    • Wander My World With Me Blog Directory 2016
    • Water >
      • Water Center - Earth Institute | Columbia University
  • Let's Taste
    • A Taste of My World Cookbooks by Phillip Martin >
      • Let's Brew a Cappuccino
      • A Taste of My World, Vol. 1
      • A Taste of My World, Vol. 2
    • The Very Exciting, Great And Nutritious (VEGAN) Cookbook >
      • Kanun Andrade
    • Flavorful Food Adventures >
      • Tiffanie Boldizsar
  • Communities
    • Principals Resources >
      • "Why Plan?" - School-Center Emergency Management
      • Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike
      • THE DOOR - Health -Safety
      • "Principles for Principals" A Gift From Ada Rosario Dolch
    • Leadership & Safety Series Downloads >
      • Leadership and Safety Series HS
    • Lamar CISD Community
    • Inner Resilience Program
  • Store
  • TEPSA 2016
  • Training Site
  • About Health Equity Project

Expected at Mural 56 - Ashville, Ohio

6/24/2018

14 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I knew it was wise to cast a wide net when I contacted schools throughout Central Ohio.  I didn't limit my casting to just principals.  I may not be a fisherman, and like nothing to do with that so-called sport, but I know what a net is for.  I included vice-principals, librarians, art teachers and specialists.  You never know who might recognize my art and help lead the charge.  At Walnut Elementary, in the farmland around Ashville, Ohio, that job fell upon a librarian who had used my clip art for years.  She was thrilled I contacted her.  I was thrilled somebody recognized my work.
 
Usually, I paint in schools and most people upon arrival have never heard of me.  And, all too often, when I leave schools, most of the faculty still have neither heard of me nor introduced themselves.  It's a mystery to me how and why teachers don't introduce themselves to a guest in their schools who's creating a mural, but that's the world we live in these days.
 
It was not the case at Walnut Elementary.
 
When I walked into the office, I spotted my name written on the daily calendar.  I was expected!  The women in the office knew who I was and why I was there.  It was a delightful new experience.
 
I sat down in the office to wait for the end of school, and was quickly joined by an excited music teacher, also thrilled to meet me.  She, too, had used my clip art for years.  I knew right away I was in a place where I was happy to find myself.
 
The principal soon escorted me into a classroom with a dozen or more teachers.  And, that's when I learned what they had in mind.  They didn't want one big mural like I usually do.  They wanted small murals about one yard by two yards.  They want murals for each grade level (kindergarten through grade five), plus music, the library, the gym and the art room.
 
I get to decorate the school!
 
Most of those present had ideas of what they'd like for their murals.  And, I assured them that I could do whatever they wanted.  The first mural up would be at the entrance to the gym.  It wasn't just because the P.E. teacher told the others present that they needed to check out my website if they hadn't yet.  Of course, that kind of endorsement never hurts.  The P.E. teacher was retiring at the end of the school year.  So, his mural had to be the first completed.
 
The librarian lingered around after the meeting to give me a tour of her domain.  The library was two stories tall, but only things on the ground level could be used.  There were huge empty walls above us.  I'd mentioned in our group meeting that I salivated over the idea of painting a library.  The idea appealed to my long-term clip art fan as well.  She said she'd start looking for grant money to get a tree house painted on her walls.  I might just find myself driving to Walnut Elementary, surrounded by the beautiful Ohio countryside, for a long time to come.
 
Unlike most of my murals, I painted the mural for the gym all by myself.  It didn't take long to realize I really do prefer the community experience.  But, since this was painted during school, the whole student body was able to watch it take shape.  And, like most elementary schools where kids are not supposed to talk in the halls, the kids just couldn't stop oohing and ahhing.  It just wasn't possible to not ask questions.  I loved it.  I can't say all the teachers did.

Picture
The rest of the murals, mostly created over the summer vacation, were painted by community members, just like I prefer.  The librarian brought along students to help with her project.  More volunteers, students, teachers and parents showed up for the rest.  Now, all kids are welcome.  But, truth be told, I love it when adults also come along with their kids to paint.  One team of two teenagers and two mothers was so very good that I repeatedly urged them to return the next day.  Finally, one of the mothers said that she took a vacation day to come paint with her daughter.  I was truly moved and said, "I hope your daughter is as touched by this as I am."  It was such a wonderful mother/daughter day and I was so pleased to be a part of it.
 
Another mother, with two daughters and an extra, asked me if I'd ever painted at senior citizen centers.  Actually, I've written to several of them but not one of them ever replied.  As it turned out, her husband was high up in some senior citizen center chain.  So, I might just have a new connection to bring me into a whole new kind of community.  But, it'll have to wait till I'm done with crackers and lemonade. (My next blog)

Picture
The principal and his oh-so-talented assistant work on the second grade mural.
14 Comments
Greg Kovack
6/29/2018 09:15:39 am

So happy to have you at our school Phillip. The halls are coming alive before our eyes and our kids who are helping will have an everlasting legacy at their elementary school!

Reply
Phillip
6/29/2018 09:50:51 am

Greg, it has been so much fun decorating your school. And, I'm glad you see how important it is to give the kids and the rest of the community a chance to participate. They'll always have that ownership.

Reply
Ginny
6/29/2018 09:19:08 am

Impressive art and descriptive blog! Thank you for making our school even more beautiful!

Reply
Phillip
6/29/2018 09:52:16 am

I'm always open for a new experience. Decorating a school has been a delight. (And, I'm glad you like the blog as well.)

Reply
Stacie Jett
6/29/2018 09:47:22 am

The walls look amazing! I'm excited to see the students reactions when school begins. Thank you for allowing the kids and their siblings or parents to help. I know my kids enjoyed it very much.

Reply
Phillip
6/29/2018 09:53:12 am

There will be more time for community painting, so I hope you come back when the word goes out.

Reply
Becky Ohlinger
6/29/2018 09:58:01 am

We have always had a special school, but the art now makes it even more special. Thank you!

Reply
Phillip
6/29/2018 10:35:37 am

I'm going to have to agree with you. Walnut is a wonderful environment for students.

Reply
Ashlry
6/29/2018 10:34:49 am

My daughter was so excited to see the finished product by the library and pick out what sections she had painted. I love how our 2nd grade mural turned out. Thank you!

Reply
Phillip
6/29/2018 10:36:36 am

She'll always have that ownership. So glad she was a part of it.

Reply
Alley Voros
6/29/2018 10:46:16 am

Beautiful work and a job well done! Thank you for gracing our hallways with your phenomenal talent.

Reply
Phillip
6/29/2018 10:49:04 am

Beautiful, gracing and phenomenal . . . I should hire you to write pr for me. Thanks for your kind words.

Reply
Lisa Gribler
7/2/2018 06:21:36 am

I love that the kids got to see you at work! I'm sure you've inspired several future artists!

Reply
Phillip
7/2/2018 10:10:02 am

I'm very glad the whole school was able to watch me work on the first one. I'm even happier about the community participation this summer. It's changing the entire look of your school.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Wander My World With Me 
    by Phillip Martin

    Artist, Muralist,
    Photographer and
    World Wanderer
    Blog Directory

    Wonder about Wander My World With Me?
    • I Draw (Introduction)
    • Faces in the Crowd
      About Icon Images 
    • Directory

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Portraits
    Travel

    RSS Feed

    View Previous Blogs and Add Comments
    Scroll to the bottom of this page and select "Previous" 
    and/or add Comments by selecting "Comments" and fill in the "Leave a Reply" form.
    Phillip Martin's Web Sites
    • Facebook
    • ​The Mural Man
    Phillip Martin's Books
    • The Mural Man Series 
    • A Taste of My World Cookbooks
“Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. 
 We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.”
 
~ Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa



Proudly powered by Weebly
Design by DivTag Templates