Twelve students from Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA) will participate in a mural project led by nonprofit organization, Mark Making, throughout the week of April 15. In addition to working with students from CGLA, Mark Making has also partnered with La Paz, the H*Art Gallery, local artist Jas Milam, twelve students from Boyd Buchanan High School and Spark: A Right Brain Celebration.
The mural’s design, inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead, is derived from sugar skulls, which are deep-rooted in the Latino culture. Participating students will receive 8 hours of art instruction where they will not only work on creating the sugar skull designs but also discuss Day of the Dead history while being engaged in other intercultural dialogue. Ivette Youngberg, Spanish teacher at CGLA, is working with Mark Making and CGLA students to get them prepared for the project.
Ms.
Youngberg says, “I’m very grateful to Mark Making and the H*Art Gallery for inviting us to participate in this project. The girls are so excited to be part of it because they’re getting the chance to be part of something that relates to their culture while expanding their love for art."
Art instructors will be at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Monday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 17 from 4:15-6:15 p.m. Art enthusiasts and supporters can observe all 24 students and three professional artists painting the mural onsite at the H*Art Gallery on Saturday, April 20 11 a.m.-3 p.m., an event that is part of the 10-day Spark Celebration. The mural will be displayed on the exterior wall of the H*Art Gallery for 6 months.