CLEVELAND MURAL

CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Commissioned Faith to paint over 3 portable classrooms to give the walls a much needed refresh. The portable walls measured 40ft x 12ft (a total of 120ft x 12ft).

This mural incorporated a lot of elements that reflected what Cleveland represents. Students were given a worksheet to express what they wanted on the mural. Some key elements included were:

• “RESPONSIBLE and inclusive cleveland heroes” or R.I.C.H. is a common phrase used at the school which was chosen to be the main lettering piece to remind the students of the school’s core principles.

• The bear on the far left is The school’s mascot, Mr. cubby.

• All throughout the mural, monarch butterflies were drawn since they frequent the milkweed grown at the school’s gardens.

• The rainbow was a common imagery seen throughout the student’s drawings. faith chose to make the rainbow a photo opportunity for when students graduated or had gained an achievement.

• Ms. Shelley’s library is a homage to the school’s beloved librarian and office Faculty, ms. shelley who passed in May 2021. She was the glue that held the school together and will always be remembered.

To get the community involved as much as possible, two Mural activity days were included where students, staff, and parents were able to help Faith paint the mural through a paint by numbers activity.

YOU CAN NOW VISIT THIS MURAL AT CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE*

745 cleveland st, Oakland, CA 94606

*NOTE: please Respect the school’s policies when viewing the mural and visit when school is not in session (I.E. on Weekends and on holidays)

A big thank you to Jen for helping the mural process, alex for providing drone footage of the mural, and to all the Cleveland parents, faculty, and students for all the support on this mural!