SHS Students Engage in the Art of Reflection

Arts education has extensive benefits for students of all ages. Art inspires creative and critical thinking, leads to self-expression, encourages innovative approaches to problems, and teaches lessons in how to learn and grow from mistakes. At Simsbury High School (SHS), the Art Department faculty maintains that art is an ideal vehicle to unite and inspire people of all kinds—and a 7 and a half by 12 foot painted mural in a highly visible hallway at the school is a testament to that belief.

An after school mural painting club had already been established at SHS, hence the halls of the school have been infused with color and imagery of late. But last winter, two recent graduates, Laura Hinojosa Silva and Makayla Barlow, and current senior Gavin Saunders took the lead on a special mural idea outside of the club that could involve anyone at all who wanted to participate. No artistic talent required, just the desire to create a work of art that would show classmates and visitors to their school the figures from history that had inspired them.

No limits were put on where inspiration could come from. Hinojosa Silva chose Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter known for her striking self-portraits. Barlow featured a musical artist, Queen’s Freddie Mercury. Saunders selected Martin Luther King, Jr. The mural depicts the back view of three students facing mirrors from which their heroes appear as reflections of them. The eyes of Martin Luther King and Frida Kahlo look out just over the students’ shoulders, seeming to ask the people walking by, “Can I inspire you, too?”

Supervisor of Visual Art K-12 Shannon Gagne was eager to celebrate this endeavor. “It fits so well into what we are doing here and the times,” she said. “The students chose role models of social justice. They are looking into a mirror and seeing someone they admire, someone they value and look up to. And while looking in, anybody could see themselves or who they want to be.”

Saunders was thoughtful about his choice. He explained, “I chose MLK because I felt connected to him. MLK believed in equality and that all races should stand together regardless of differences. I too am friends with all types of students at SHS despite social norms and expectations.”

Art teacher Thea Ciciotte supervised the reflections mural project and was excited to have a project for which the students in every one of her classes could participate. The painting features a field of flowers of all different types and hues. It serves as a metaphor for the collaborative spirit of the project. Said Ciciotte, “For anyone who wanted to get involved, they could paint a flower.” She added, “And they still can. This project is organic, flexible, and fluid.”

Although the mural was officially unveiled in November, mused Ciciotte, “This mural can evolve and change any time. Maybe it’s never done.”