LYNN — Brickett Elementary School hosted a celebration on Thursday afternoon for the installation of murals on the school’s fence painted by members of Raw Art Works’ WAMX group.
This group — made up of a team of young women who work together to create positive change in their community through public art — painted multiple pieces which were screwed into the fence in the front school yard. The paintings face both sides so that the school and the community members walking by on the sidewalk can see.
The partnership between WAMX and Brickett began when members of the Brickett’s parent-teacher organization (PTO) expressed interest in an art installation at the school a few years ago, but issues regarding funding and the pandemic pushed the project back.
PTO Secretary Amy Butterworth said they wanted “a new spark” of inspiration at the school for the kids to look forward to when they return in the fall. After the tough year the pandemic presented — and the lack of time spent in schools — Butterworth said they wanted to do something nice and exciting for the students.
“The main goal was, ‘how can we do something that will be ready in time for the kids coming back to school so they can just feel more welcome?'” Butterworth said.
In collaboration with WAMX and Brickett Principal Dr. Mary Dill, and the support of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, the PTO met with the artists last month to provide input on ideas and goals for the project.
The artists took over from there and came up with an underwater theme, representing the school’s alias ‘Brickett by the Sea’; they even included the school’s mascot in the work as Tamara the Scuba Tiger. The mural consists of multiple pieces portraying inspirational messages, underwater life and nature.
One of the artists, Victoria Santiago of Lynn, said they wanted to incorporate Tamara the tiger into a scuba-diving scene because it is unconventional but shows the students they can accomplish whatever they set out to do.
The tiger has her arm out in one of the mural pieces, so the students can take photos with her.
Another artist, Abigail Spillane of Lynnfield, said they made the murals colorful to promote creativity and inspire kids’ imaginations. The mural also has an interactive aspect, wherein kids can search for Tamara painted on different mural pieces throughout the schoolyard.
Spillane said they painted the tiger hiding in 26 different spots among the different pieces of the murals.
Butterworth said the students can now incorporate this interactive aspect into their play, whether it be during recess or break time in the school yard.
Spillane said it’s a “very fairytale-type scenario and we wanted to create this space where kids can feel like they’re in a story and just having fun in their own little world.”
When discussing what they wanted the mural to look like, Lynn artist Heady Acosta said the artists thought back to what their younger selves needed at that age. This resulted in the story-book idea as well as the motivational messages painted on pieces of the mural.
“We didn’t just think about things that we wanted physically, but things that we needed mentally when we were younger,” Acosta said. “So we incorporated little mantras to make kids feel good about themselves.”
In addition to Butterworth, members of the PTO that made this art installation possible include President Lacie Harris, Vice President Alicia Summe, Treasurer Michelle Sheehy and CIT and staff member Ellen Ernst.
BNI Thrive, a local business networking group, covered the full sponsorship of the project.
