Plain, boring, empty: many words can describe the walls of Monroe-Woodbury High School, but beautiful usually isn’t one of them. The plainly painted block walls, common in areas like D floor, add to this atmosphere. In recent years, some murals have been painted in some parts of the school, brightening the ambience, but many areas remain unadorned.
“The walls take up most of the space and since they’re bare, there is no life,” said junior Sofia Michelena.
A decorated work environment can help improve productivity. A 2010 study by the University of Exeter tracked the productivity of office workers in different environments. They found that workers in enriched environments, with décor and plants, were 17 percent more productive than those in bare and functional environments. Workers with control over the design of their office environment were 32 percent more productive than those without control. What if we extended this effect to productivity in schools?
Murals can also be a positive force for change. In response to fighting in her school, Madeleine Kelly, an art teacher at a New Orleans charter school for under-credited and over-aged students called ReNEW, led a class where students collaborated to create a mural honoring each other’s cultural and racial backgrounds, according to University of San Francisco News.
Students enjoy the added color of murals as well. Kayla Greenidge, a junior, stated how the murals in the staircases “look pretty, and it makes the school feel less like a prison.”
High school principal Mr. McElroy agrees with the importance of murals.
“Our building is large and can feel institutional. Murals provide an experience for our students to collaborate and make something that is impactful and long-lasting to the building. They make our building feel like a school,” said Mr. McElroy, who was an art teacher prior to becoming principal.
Here are five locations in need of some sprucing up.
If there are clear positives to creating more art around the school, why isn’t there more?
“Time. It’s permanent,” said Mrs. Pesce, the adviser for National Art Honor Society. Unlike the paintings on the subway stair windows, murals painted on the walls are more permanent, so more time is needed to work on them. Only a select few people are able to paint these murals.
“It would have to be done either through class, like Senior Art Seminar, or National Art Honor Society,” said Mrs. Pesce.
This adds to time constraints, since there needs to be viable times for students to paint.
Another issue when it comes to wall murals is money. More funding is needed to create more murals, which require paint and other art supplies. Fundraising events, such as the Wayback Burger fundraiser, allow the art department to create projects like the stairwell paintings.
Posters are an easier and cheaper method to display more art around the school.
“I also think that artwork can be hung in more places around the school,” said Mrs. Pesce.
Recently, student art was hung around the building, replacing older photos of students and staff.
One idea would be for students in art classes to create artwork and display them around school. It’s convenient time- and money-wise.
Murals are a great way to show off student creativity while boosting the atmosphere at Monroe-Woodbury High School. With funding and time, this school could leave its dull walls in the past and let a new ambience in.
