The colorful wings of a butterfly now grace the wall outside the main office at Oakwood Primary Center. The beautiful interactive mural, opposite the gym, is the work of Walt Whitman students who are members of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS). The butterfly wings are spread so that young students can stand between them for photos, and remind them to “Spread Kindness,” which is the message painted above the wings.
The mural was also a lesson in patience for the primary students. They had to wait for the official unveiling before they could see what was going up on the wall because the project was covered during school hours. It was finally unveiled for the school to enjoy on February 17th after being proudly signed by the 2022-23 executive officers of the Walt Whitman National Art Honor Society chapter.
Oakwood administrators conceived of the idea of a kindness mural with butterfly wings in March of 2022. Once the Whitman Art Honor Society was told about the project, they knew they wanted to work on it. The initial design was created by then-chapter president Lila Freire. She graduated from Whitman and went off to college before the painting of the mural began, but this year’s NAHS members used her artwork, which she titled “The Sky’s the Limit,” as their reference. Thanks to NAHS members Shelly Chen, Elana Denis, Emily Lewin, Paige MacPherson, Maryam Malik, Andrew Noonan, Victoria Pascrell, Sophie Ross, and Gianna Vozza for their artistry.
Since the unveiling, plenty of beaming Oakwood faces have been snapped in photos spreading smiles and kindness.
For more than 40 years, the National Art Honor Society has provided programs that recognize the work of students outstanding in the visual arts, and offers opportunities for them including college scholarship and art exhibits. It also highlights and advances the work of art teachers.
For more information on NAHS, visit https://www.arteducators.org/national-art-honor-societies
The beautiful hand-painted mural was unveiled the Friday before mid-winter recess, and Oakwood students were excited to get their picture taken with their new wings!
The orginal design for the mural was created by WWHS alum and then NAHS chapter president, Lila Friere.
Memebers of NAHS spent much of their free time over Regents Week in January to work on the life size piece.
Current members of Whitman's National Art Honor Society added their signatures to the wall, marking their artistry in bringing Friere's piece to life.
The message to "Spread Kindness" is simple yet so important.
Everyone at Oakwood is thrilled to have this beautiful and interactive artwork be housed in their hallway.
Thank you to Whitman's National Art Honor Society officers and members! (left to right) Andrew Noonan, Victoria Pascrell, Paige MacPherson, Gianna Vozza, Maryam Malik, Elana Denis, Sophie Ross, Shelly Chen (not pictured), and Emily Lewin (not pictured).