school wanted the design to represent
the diversity of their students and to
show the community the STEM-focus of
their school.
"We wanted the mural outside to
represent what goes on inside our
building, and bring some beauty to
downtown too." Hannah said.
The design they came up with
shows four kids reading books with a
microscope, a computer, a rocket ship
and a pi symbol on the book covers.
Then it was time to get to work. They
had to figure out how to supersize the
drawing to fit on the wall, what paints to
use and how to make it so that everyone
(kids and adults) could help paint it.
"We wanted to involve everyone, even
our youngest students. It was an added
challenge," said Hannah, "but also the
thing that made it most fun!"
They asked mural painter
Octavio Logo and other
artists what paint they should use. It
turns out, mural artists don't all use the
same kind of paint. But it had to be paint
that wouldn't wash off in the rain. They
settled on exterior house paint. Then,
they nearly bought out all of the paint
Lowe's had. (You need a LOT of paint for
a picture that big!)
They decided to have their initial painting
party on May 1, the day of the Square
to Square bike ride from Bentonville to
Fayetteville. Springdale was a halfway
point, the "halfway halt," and they knew a
lot of families would be passing through on
bikes. They invited people to stop by and
help out with the mural.
Students, teachers, school workers,
parents, (and even the mayor!) came by,
picked up a paintbrush and helped fill
in the mural. It was like a giant paint-by-
number painting, with everyone trying
their best to paint within the lines.
All in all, it took about 130 hours,
and more than 50 volunteers, to create
the GIANT work of art. The mural
was officially completed at the end of
May. LISA Academy, and everyone who
helped, couldn't be more proud of the
colorful mural that shows the community
who, what and where they are.
LISA (Learn, Innovate, Support, Achieve)
Academy Springdale is a K-8 STEM-focused
charter school that's tuition free and open
to all students via lottery. With 300 students
and a diverse, small school atmosphere,
they just completed a second academic year
on the Springdale campus at 301 Holcomb
Street. They are part of the LISA Academy
network of schools that serve students K-12
throughout Arkansas. A Rogers-Bentonville
campus will open in the fall of 2022. For
more information, visit www.lisaacademy.org
Downtown Springdale mural photos
courtesy Meredith Mashburn
46 • July 2021 • www.OfficialKidsMag.com
