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COMMUNITY ARTS
O.Henry Middle School Murals
Wanda Montemayor's journey in mural making began in art education. Some of her first murals were created in an after school programs with paint. One year she decided to let the kids tile the backsplash of the art rooms sink area and what followed would be a passion for ceramic mural making and community collaboration.
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The three murals below were created at O.Henry Middle School between the years 2014 through 2018. These installations emphasize mindfulness, multicultural learning, and social-emotional skill building.
Wanda’s innovative pieces of artwork are implemented through a train-the-trainer model, partnering with local schools, neighborhood organizations, families, and nonprofits. This model allows people of all ages and creative abilities to engage with the project, without ever sacrificing artistic excellence or originality.
O.Henry Middle School, "Going Places"
2017
Once relationships are established, Wanda mentors and guides each trainer using art therapy tools and healing-centered engagement as a methodology. Children, typically, participate by personalizing a pre-made clay shape, which forms the tiles vibrant background.
Children in "Going places" participated in the grouting process, a team effort that took a many hours of work to complete.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a tool to help people build healthy relationship and development skills such as social awareness, self-management, self-awareness, and responsible decision making.
Evidence-based research shows that SEL can improve academic achievement, well-being, and positive life outcomes. It can also assist with the reduction of teacher burnout and school dropout rates. Over 75% of employers say SEL skills are the most valuable qualities for job success.
Children contributing to a beautification project invests them in their community, while also gifting them a memory that they can revisit throughout their lifetime.
This process affects and is useful for all of the adults involved as well. Our SEL capacities trickle back into our families, our workplaces, and within our friendships. It strengthens our bonds and fosters a sense of unity and accomplishment in our community.
O.Henry
Middle School
Stallion - 2016
Another strategy used at O.Henry was empowering the students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) leaders.
ACE can include physical or emotional abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, having a family member attempt or die by suicide, or growing up in a household with mental health or substance use problems.
These traumatic incidences can result in changes to a person's brain development, behavioral and emotional responses to stress, overall health, later in life substance abuse issues, as well impacting academic performance.
Creating leadership at this level demonstrates Wanda's commitment to empowering vulnerable populations. Engagement with this part of our community brings restorative practices to those who have faced significant challenges, ensuring their voices are central to the mural's creation. ​
O.Henry
Middle School
Stars - 2014
Are you looking to build a community project with your school or organization? Reach out! Email:
Wanda@ComArts.us with your request.
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