Our Mission

Project Description

The Mural Project is a hands-on community based art initiative that functions as an emblem of Ramaz present, past, and future. It presents who we are, what we value, and what we aspire to be. The Project is a living record of what we’ve learned, our culture, individual and group discovery, and as a whole, reflects how we integrate ideas to find meaning in our experience.

The mural takes shape with the development of thematic paintings built upon the aesthetic of specific artistic strategies. The paintings will cover 9 floors in both the east and west stairways for a total of 18 individual wall paintings – a symbol of life in our community. Each step on this winding pathway opens up a place for setting a purpose, an intention, or perhaps a moment of reflection.

Who can participate?

All members of the Ramaz Community -- future, current and past.

How can you participate?

There are many ways to participate:

• Design and propose murals
• Help paint mural designs
• Support mural teams by preparing materials (mixing paints, readying palettes, photographing, filming and documenting the creative process)

Follow this link to learn more about submitting a proposal for the mural

Project Goals

The goal of the Ramaz Mural Project is to inspire community connection through the act of making art. It is a live action place of learning, where all involved (designers, painters, documentarians, and viewers) gain new perspectives on individual and shared environments.

The process is long-term and measured. It is an analog response to our digital age. The act of making, which is a physical, mental and spiritual experience, invigorates, sparks new ideas and ultimately instills a sense of pride and love towards oneself and community.

Each participant in the mural project is an architect of our shared experience as we move through the stairways of the school.

Timeline

The time is prime for Ramaz to embark upon this community wide mural project. We are here! Heneini, it’s almost 2018! We do not have to look far to find the symbolism in our collective work - we celebrate life, Chai, as the class of 2018 launches us into our 18 floor mural project. We embrace art - a practice of doing, thinking, and observing - as a means to enhance learning in all disciplines. Art is a method for understanding the connectivity of all things, The Mural Project aims to celebrate interdisciplinary reflection in our “silver box” at the center of the art world.

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית into being

Setting the conceptual terms, preliminary designs and broad strokes for the 18 year project, the mural will begin on One West, the ground floor stairwell leading to the gym. We will complete a design for that specific portion, but in addition, collect ideas to generate a design forecast including a guiding palette and timeline for each level in both the East and West stairwells.

קֶשֶׁת Arc

Most of the vision and design for the mural will take place in the “arc” of our project. Building upon the infrastructure set up during the first stage, academic departments, after school clubs, committees, teams and any other group within the Ramaz community will have the opportunity to take ownership of a section. These sections can be thought of as domains within the spiraling web of our communal identity. Think of it as Mindcraft meets the stairs (building worlds within worlds)! Each group can propose a design that reflects their interests, vision, and connection to Ramaz’s mission and unique fabric. The Arc will illustrate the layers and reveal the deep and complex attributes at the heart of our community.

סיום Culmination:

The last phase of the mural project, the Culmination, will fuse the threads laid down during the בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית and קֶשֶׁת phases. This phase will ensure that each section of the mural has a cohesive aesthetic and identifiable directive. The mural will be a visual manifestation of the evolution and transformation of Ramaz. It is our hope that each participant, supporter, or passerby feels connected and impacted by the mural.