UNIONDALE HIGH SCHOOL
NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER — Uniondale, NY
Big Picture
Uniondale High School serves 2,400 students in Uniondale, New York, on Long Island. The mural enlivens the walls of the student security entrance and the interior where students queue to go through metal detectors. The overwhelming sentiment was that the entrance to the school needed to embrace the students cultures and allow them to engage in the process on paint day!
The project gave Project Color Corps the opportunity to work with a world renowned muralist, Magda Love and the ability to create a dynamic entrance for the students and faculty.
A Conversation About Color
Through an interactive color seminar led by Project Color Corps founder Laura Guido-Clark, the students learned about the transformational power of color. They paired learning with imagery for how color made them feel. They wanted the mural to represent hope, healing, and inclusion for the students, thus enhancing their school experience.
The Transformation
Volunteers consisted of Project Color Corps’ NYC Chapter members, students, faculty, board members, school principal, and the school district superintendent. The project took two 10-hour days to complete. The school community felt the mural reflected their culture and imbued a sense of pride.
“Art is a catalyst for scholar success and achievement; it is a true expression of who they are on the inside. I am so excited to partner with this amazing group who understands the importance of having an environment that’s bright, that’s beautiful, and that’s colorful for children to look at and be amazed by it; It will help move them forward. I am excited for what this will mean for our scholars and what it will do for them.”
—Rhonda A. Taylor
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum &
Instruction
“It’s really important for our students to see themselves in the building. When they feel as though it is reflective of their culture and their art, it becomes a space where they can create, learn, and grow. I think it has an impact on how they feel about themselves as learners and it unleashes the possibilities of what they can become in the future. I don’t think of it as just a mural, rather; I look at it as part of our learning environment that is going to foster genius, community, and self-esteem for our children. For that, I am very, very grateful!”
—Monique Darrisaw-Akil, ED.D.
Superintendent of Schools, Uniondale UFSD
SPECIAL THANKS
A tremendous thank you to our partners who made this project a reality:
CHAPTER: NEW YOUR CITY
SPONSORS:
DESIGNER & MURALIST: