Collaborative Public Art Project | September 2023 - June 2024 | MUSD Elementary Students
Special yearlong student art project funded by California Arts Council
Signs of Courage
Filming by Tallulah Coleman, Editing & Graphics by Melissa Sabol
Video Editing by Jorge Davies, Graphics by Melissa Sabol
OVERVIEW
Signs of Courage is a public art project collaboratively created by MUSD 6th grade students and professional practicing artists. The final art installation will consist of 11 art signs (think road sign mural) that present positive and encouraging messages in response to challenging issues students face. These 11 signs will be temporarily installed together at the 29 Palms Community Center and the project will be documented in a short film and screened in June 2024.
For 9 months during the 2023-24 school season, our teaching artists will guide a group of 6th grade students at all elementary schools through a series of visual art projects that encourage students to openly explore social and emotional issues. Each teaching artist will work with students on projects that express themselves via messaging, graphic imagery, typeface, color, shape, and scale.
ARTISTS
Rhonda Lane Coleman
Lead Artist
Claudia Bucher
Teaching Artist
Tayler Straziuso
Teaching Artist
Melissa Sabol
Lead Artist &
Graphic Designer
Wendy Hunt
Teaching Artist
Jacobine Van Der Meer
Teaching Artist
Jorge Davies
Lead Artist &
Filmmaker
Jen Shakti
Teaching Artist
Devino Tricoche
Teaching Artist
Sarah LaChance
Lead Artist
Meg Shannon
Teaching Artist
Margeaux Walter
Teaching Artist
Kait Bretz
Teaching Artist
Heather Sprague
Teaching Artist
Marcia Winn
Teaching Artist
DETAILS
CORE PROGRAM
All Students | First Four Months
We will use our Core Program of featured artist videos, art project videos, and classroom instruction to provide a foundation for Signs of Courage. The first four monthly core projects will expose all students to messaging, graphic imagery, typeface, color and shape to convey ideas. This will allow all students, not just 6th graders, to have exposure to the process, and a solid understanding when they vote on the signs at the end of the year.
ART JOURNALS
All Students | All Year
At the beginning of the year, ALL students will be given materials to create a special Art Journal where they can safely express themselves and creatively experiment with images and words. We will provide weekly prompts to get them started.
THOUGHT BOX
All Students | All Year
Throughout the year, students will have access to the ThoughtBox, which is where students can anonymously deposit thoughts, feelings, and concerns.
SIGNS OF COURAGE CLASSES
6th Graders | Oct 2023 - May 2024
6th grade Students will have one extra art class per month, where they’ll work with the teaching artists to further explore these ideas and develop art signs. Our teaching artists will filter the anonymous info that comes from the ThoughtBoxes to our 6th students who will work on creating positive messages and building out the signs. These specialized classes will be student centered, require collaboration, create a sense of community, and allow students to take charge of a large-scale project.
PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION & SHORT FILM
2024 Date to be Announced
The final art installation will consist of 11 art signs (think road sign mural) that present positive and encouraging messages in response to challenging issues students face. These 11 signs will be temporarily installed together at the 29 Palms Community Center and the project will be documented in a short film and screened.