Murals At Park 

Beka Ruehle

Part One: A Mural is a Legacy 

One of the most commonly remarked upon traits of the Park High School building is the art that covers our walls. There are at least 30 murals at Park, each of them painted by a student artist. This tradition began in the early 80’s, former Park art teacher Marcia Sykes mentioned in an informal interview, also stating that painting murals was originally an Art Club activity begun by her predecessors Glen Gerber and Marty Petit. Ms. Sykes continued this practice by having her AP art classes paint murals at the end of the school year, and today, mural painting is often initiated by a student artist, and Art Club members and other students are enlisted to help.

When painting a mural, students become a part of something much bigger than themselves. Mr. Maletis, an art teacher at Park, mentions that having and creating murals inspires school pride in many Park students. 

It’s possible that this school spirit comes from an environmental feeling of empowerment. Mr. Quirke, an AP Art and Sculpture teacher at Park, explained that when a student sees a mural being painted, they “see that kids have power, and that you have power,” a feeling that teens can so often lack. Mr. Quirke elaborated on this feeling of student empowerment, stating “I think the best thing is that they have control over their environment.” 

According to research published in the Architecture Image Studies scientific journal, “In educational institutions, murals can encourage collaboration, enhance student engagement, and promote institutional identity.” These ideas were all mentioned by teachers at Park, but staff also emphasized that murals provide students with an artistic outlet. Mr. Palacios, a current teacher and former student at Park, states that the murals at Park can be seen as a “celebration of student talent,” as all students can request this opportunity to leave their mark on the school.

Each mural at Park High captures a moment in time, one that is often personal to those who attended the school during its painting. As Mr. Quirk stated, “a mural is a legacy.” Each piece holds a story, an intention, and although the stories behind many of our murals have faded throughout the years, much of the art itself still stands. 

Some of the murals throughout Park (Photo Credit: Beka Ruehle)

Part Two: History of a Legacy

Mr. Quirke recalled that his greatest concern with murals being lost to time is that often, the artist isn’t informed beforehand. He specifically remembers briefly returning to Gilmore Fine Arts, a school he taught at before Park, to find that many of the murals he had painted with students were no longer there. Mr. Palacios had a similar experience when he returned to Park to teach, only to find that a mural he had painted in one of the old Spanish rooms had been painted over. 

Mr. Quirke expressed that he was most disappointed not by the destruction of his art at Gilmore, but the fact that he was never notified of its occurrence. He mentions that the murals at Park specifically are important elements of the school’s history, and that he would be open to a project documenting them if they are in danger of being covered. 

This mural was the first of its kind to be painted at Park, but it most likely will not be the last. Mr. Quirke describes that painting this mural was a very positive experience for the students that worked on it, and it was also logistically easier for him. Students had the ability to paint in Mr. Quirke’s room rather than in a crowded hallway, and they also had easier access to a sink and their painting materials. 

Although he was struck by how passionate students were when creating this mural, he also acknowledged that both wall painting and canvas painting have their own “pros and cons.” One drawback, for him, is that there is more instant gratification to putting paint on a wall than waiting for properly licensed carpenters to hang the mural- a feat that may be low on the district’s priority list due to the constant need for repair in some of the school buildings. Despite the differences in the process of panel murals vs. traditional, Mr. Quirke still views the former as the “evolution of muraling.” 

Mr. O’Malley expressed that in the future, there will most likely be more murals created in this format due to its flexible nature. 

The murals at Park represent its history, its atmosphere, and the school pride that the student body holds. This art truly is a rich piece of the school’s legacy, and that legacy will only continue to grow as the tradition of painting murals evolves. 

Murals at Park date back to the early 80's. (photo credit: Beka Ruehle)