Montgomery C. Smith Elementary Students Create Inspiring Large-Scale Hallway Mural With Local Arts Organization, Super-Stories.
During the week of May 18, students from the Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School and a local artist Ramiro Davaro-Comas from Super–Stories transformed the hallway outside of the arts room into a bold, colorful mural inspired by student drawings and school pride.
In April, the 5th grade students in Samantha Anderson’s art classes collaborated with Ramiro Davaro-Comas, co-director of Super–Stories in Kinderhook, to come up with some drawings and ideas that would later transform the hallway of the school. Davaro-Comas asked the students to make drawings that would inspire the community, illustrations that focused on positive slogans, school iconography and imagery that made the Hudson BlueHawks special.
“I wanted to give the students an opportunity to design the environment that they see everyday, and by doing so, they would be proud of themselves, their school and their community” says Davaro-Comas. “This is an incredible enrichment program that not only honors the students’ work, but also uplifts the entire school community”.
The hallway has become a beacon of hope, and is adorned with student drawings that Ramiro turned into paintings that look like 3D stickers that include local animals, sports, positive slogans, many versions of Blue Hawks and so much more.
The art teacher that helped facilitate this project, Samantha Anderson, painted alongside Davaro-Comas and said “A project like this is so empowering for our students. Transforming this space with care and creativity has completely shifted the way people feel when they walk through it – it’s really cool that the kids are able to see that their art has the power to do that.”
“It was inspiring to see the students’ art work go from the page to the wall in the mural”, stated Mark Brenneman the schools Principal.
Super–Stories was founded by Davaro-Comas and his partner Grace Lang in 2022 and offers inclusive, community-based art experiences. Based in Kinderhook, the organization has led over 300 murals around the world and has painted murals for many local schools, libraries and businesses.
This collaborative project was made possible through generous support from a Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation grant, Stewarts, The Stewarts Holiday Match, The Hudson Endowment Fund and the HCSD Booster Club.
Also see YouTube video: Hudson’s Amazing Mural Project by Lance Wheeler
