Fifth-graders painted an ocean scene, depicting swimming dolphin, along the Kindergarten wall at Palisades Elementary School, as a class of 2013 farewell gift. Photo by Laura Schmidt
By Andrea Papagianis
What began as a donation from one student’s grandparents has transformed Palisades Elementary School, in Capistrano Beach, from a blank canvas to a colorful gallery of art.
These grandparents—who wish to remain anonymous—not only donated funds to the school, but also their time to repaint an ailing map of the United States on a playground court. Now, with three more murals complete, Palisades’ art collection has grown to include artistically revamped exterior walls and handball courts, created by students, parents and one local artist.
San Clemente artist, Andi Goud, paints a mural at Palisades Elementary. Photo by Laura Schmidt
Andriana Goud, a San Clemente artist known as Andi G., created a 100-square-foot mural of a brightly colored sun, setting among crashing surf, a tribute to the school’s symbol, ocean waves. Goud came to the school with the help of Katie Richardson, chairwoman of the Parent, Teachers Association, who reached out to local artist, offering a space to craft their art.
Richardson called Goud’s presence on campus an exciting time for students, and said their school was not only transformed, but they got to witness art happening before their eyes.
“Art inspires creativity and individual thought among students, a key to developing the capacity to make contributions, as adults, to the community in their future,” Richardson wrote in a press release.
Over the course of three days last week, 12 fifth-graders painted a 500-square-foot ocean scene on a wall near the school’s Kindergarten classrooms. The students, randomly selected from 50 members of the class of 2013, depicted swimming dolphin as their legacy gift to the school they are leaving behind. Additionally, parents partook in the school-wide art program by giving artistic flare to the playground’s handball courts.
Richardson said this could be the beginnings of more art infusion into the school. The projects were supported by grants from the Katherine Taylor Pease Foundation for the Arts, and through a donation by the family of second-grader, Nora Cannon. For more information or to schedule an appointment to see the artwork, contact Palisades Elementary at 949.496.5942.