Teachers Discover Community Murals

As part of Primary Source's Global Art Traditions in the United States course, New England educators discovered a unique educational resource: murals in their own communities. Teachers from across disciplines visited and photographed murals on business, school, and post office walls in neighborhoods near Boston, Natick, Newton, and Providence.

On Wednesday, March 12th, teachers shared the fruits of their labor and discussed the educational benefits of studying murals in their own communities. "This assignment really helped me reflect on my own community and turn a keener eye toward murals all over," one participant remarked. Another said, "It was wonderful to explore the history of the town where I have been living for 10 years."

David Fichter, a local muralist, was present to share his extensive knowledge of the process of mural-making based on decades of experience working with students and teachers around the world. Several teachers even discovered that David had guided murals created in their very own communities. Reflecting on the opportunity to explore and study a mural in this way, one participant said, "I'm inspired to ask my students to do something similar!"

Course participants will reap the benefits of all their hard work. The photographs they took and the analyses they wrote have been compiled and will be distributed to participants on a classroom resource CD.

Above: Teachers Richard Geckle, Natick Public Schools, and Ilene Lieberman, Wayland Public Schools, stand in front of "Next Stop Natick," a mural at the Natick Center train station. The 125 foot long, 25 foot high mural was designed and painted by Natick middle and high school students under the guidance of artist David Fichter.

Global Art Traditions in the United States was funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.