Bad School Mural!

United States
September 9, 2017 12:36pm CST
Though this wasn't one of my more successful art days, I was still glad a lot of these kids had a great time! One evening, earlier this year, I had received a message from a lady by the name of Minerva about being one of the guests at a middleschool career fair. To me, it was a big deal because I was about to set an example to kids about what being an artist is about. So I set up a plan with Minerva about my ideas, and we worked out that I would be doing a mural with the kids on a school wall... With this being my first time doing anything like this with a large group of kids, I was incredibly nervous and unprepared. The school supplied me with terrible quality paint... it was practically cheap children's paint... and a box full of sharpies. Once the high volume of kids began pouring in, I was overwhelmed! half the kids just grabbed sharpies and started going crazy on the wall, most of the teachers did nothing but stand back and text on their phones. There were SOME kids who were respectful, specifically the group in this photo, but it was a tough crowd in the majority of the school haha. I wanted the kids to write "what they want to be when they grow up" on the wall, but most of them just did whatever they wanted to do. I did not get a chance to actually paint with the children either, which upset me, because I was too busy supplying paint and markers. The next day I received a call from Minerva, expressing that the school had been disappointed with the wall, and that some of the kids had written swear words and double meaning profanities. I really should have had a more relaxed plan... perhaps I should have just been the one painting, and just answered the kids questions. This whole thing had been out of control. The newspaper came in to do a story on it too... which was exciting, but unfortunately the article was more about the entire school career fair and not specifically on the wall. It was a swing and a miss on a great opportunity... What are your thoughts?
4 people like this
5 responses
@sabtraversa (12941)
• Italy
9 Sep 17
Little beasts. That wall needs a "contemporary art" critic, make the whiners shut up. Well, that was an experience, for sure. We had a member here who worked with children, but she hasn't been around lately. I will tag her, so maybe she gets the notification. @pocabellla
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12941)
• Italy
9 Sep 17
@Mr_Anomaly Aww. But that would be your chance to make and raise good polite talented kids.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 17
haha I guess things could have went better, but it was well worth the learning experience... good birth control too in case I ever think about having kids...
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 17
@sabtraversa pshhh... if they start acting up, I'll make sure I ship them to Italy so you can deal with them
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Sep 17
Middle schoolers - and a mob of 'em - yah, that's a tough one! You don't want to be too controlling when it comes to art, but you need to control the situation especially for school or else they will overstep the boundaries. Was the mural on an actual wall - or was it on some material attached to a wall? The more permanent murals I've seen for schools are planned and drawn out by someone on the walls - then the volunteers of all ages paint it (according to plan), but with supervision. I went to an event where big cardboard boxes were stacked like buildings and the kids were free to draw/paint something pertaining to a certain theme . . . but you know they basically ended up doing whatever they wanted. I'm not surprised that the school didn't supply much . . . they are not all artists and they don't always know what is needed or how much. You can possibly improvise with a small group, but for a large group it's gotta be somewhat organized (with helpers if possible) with some rules or the herd will go off in crazy directions. Ah, well, at least the kids had a great time and it sounds like the teachers got some relief from teaching (although it would have been nice if they at least controlled their own kids!).
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 17
Yes! I've seen some of the teachers texting on their phones while I had to manage the herd! I was not prepared to take over their jobs for the day which had me quite a bit flustered. I did my best, and I try to keep in mind what I've learned from that day to prevent future mishaps when doing events such as this.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Sep 17
@Mr_Anomaly Live and learn, right? I'm not a teacher, but we are a family of artists . . . and as a parent, I do observe they way they do things in schools. Yep, I've seen teachers who whip out their phones at any possible moment . . . I've even seen teachers actually commenting on FB during school hours!
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 17
@much2say It's sickening, isn't it? The most important role of a human being is wasted on people hooked on a little screen. I wish they taught those morals to the teachers when they were in college... maybe their professors were playing on their phones too! haha
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
9 Sep 17
Please space such a long text to make it more readable. Not only members with glasses will be grateful.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
10 Sep 17
@Mr_Anomaly You can always edit your posts.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 17
Apologies! I will work on fixing that now, and try to keep it in mind in the future! -Mr. Anomaly
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
12 Mar 18
We learn from things. I am sorry it did not work out. Can you do it again and do it your way?
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129482)
• Israel
13 Mar 18
@Mr_Anomaly That sounds like a good idea. Can you make a rough draft and show them what you really want to do and convince them to give you a second chance Mr. Anomaly?
• United States
12 Mar 18
I don't think the school wants me back hahaha. If I could do it again, I'd paint it beforehand and then just pick 1 kid at a time to sign the wall
1 person likes this
@rz3300 (357)
• United States
9 Sep 17
Leave it to kids to mess it all up.
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Sep 17
Honestly I blame the school and the teachers... These kids could've been kept in line and under control... but the teachers did nothing and the school could have had someone with me to help with supplies so I could have done more with the kids and showed them more about what I wanted them to do. It was just a mess!