Q. What happens when you combine student art with community beautification?A. A gorgeous mural at the corner Mission and Rubidoux boulevards, on the Jimenez Rancho Market building.
Four Jurupa students designed original art for the project, intended to help elevate art, culture and civic pride in the Rubidoux area. The students – selected through a local art contest held by Healthy Jurupa Valley – joined art teachers and Healthy Jurupa Valley staff to paint the murals in early March. The completed work is scheduled to be unveiled at 10 a.m. on March 30.
In addition to the public display of their work, the students – Jasmine Guerrero, of Rubidoux High, and Abril Aranda, Tais de Andrade and Charley Jenavive Horton Lyman, all of Patriot High – received certificates of achievement and art supplies.
Here is a deeper look at the students' creations, in the words of the young artists themselves:
Q. Why did you decide on the design you developed?
A. I felt this message is important with the division being felt in our current society due to politics and violence.
Q. Why do you think it is important to have your piece displayed in the community?
A. I think my piece is important to display to the community because it depicts a positive message and attracts people because of the colors used. My main message is love and unity.
Charley Jenavive Horton Lyman, PHS, created a chillingly lovely blue ice cave.
A. It is my dream to have my art out into the world. The message I was trying to get through my art work was that even if you are in a cold, dark spot in your life, you will always get through it.
Q. What is your favorite part of art?
A. My favorite part about art is when I am going through a hard time, art gets me through that rough patch.
A. I think the artwork is beneficial to the community because it brings originality to the area and makes the streets seem more enthusiastic. It brings hope on the street.
Q. What was the message you were trying to get across in your piece?
A. There is no specific message behind my piece; I intended it just to be pleasing to the eye. If I had to put a message behind the illustration it would be how the elephant and octopus symbolize wisdom and strength; the fruit just happens to be tied to the Jimenez Market's commodities.
Tais de Andrade, PHS, developed “Find your wings," a depiction of two stunning butterfly wings.
Q. What was the message you were trying to get across in your piece?A. I wanted to convey a piece of art that represents self-growth and inspires others. The butterfly symbolizes hope, change, and endurance, so I wanted to feel empowered by simply standing in front of a pair of butterfly wings.
A. It's important to have my art, and art in general, displayed because it creates a foundation for everyone to come together as a community and enjoy our city.
