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KING ADOPTS MYRA AVENUE UNDERPASS AS MURAL PROJECT

In July of this year, neighbors, teachers, and students of Thomas Starr King Middle School spent a sweltering afternoon cleaning the Myra Avenue underpass and priming the wall in preparation for a mural to be painted. In the weeks following, artist Louie Metz painted the first of what we hope will be several pieces of public art on the underside of this bridge.

Thomas Starr King Middle School has adopted the west side of the underpass with the support of the Franklin Hills Neighborhood Association. It is our plan to paint a series of three murals that reflect the students' view of community and their place in it.

The Community club, a group of students dedicated to strengthening the neighborhood, is spearheading the project. The group formed last year after a schoolwide effort to raise money for UNICEF and the survivor of the tsunami in Southern Asia. Its members have spent several afternoons photographing images of people, buildings, objects, and street scenes for use in the mural. Students at King are working hard to create design ideas, as well as raising funds to pay for the necessary expenses.

Among the costs are painting supplies, a washing of the wall, an anti-graffiti coat after the mural is painted, and a city permit. Mr. Metz and neighborhood artist Nathan Rosser will be giving their time at a very generous rate to help the students with the design and execution of the painting. All in all, this first mural (scheduled to be painted in November) will cost around $3000.

Assistance with this project is welcome and encouraged. If you would like to be a part of the process, or make a donation please contact Nora Murphy at [email protected], or call the school for more information.