Big Mural
Workshop in Texas, USA
1 May - 25 June, 1997
Fort Worth Independent School District
ART JAPAN
18 June to 27June, 1997
Fort Worth Outlet Square

ORGANISER OF WORKSHOP
Beverly Fletcher (Art Director)

TEACHER:
Jane Edwards,
Art Teacher -R.L.Paschal High School; Fort Worth, Texas 76109

COLLABORATION:
Beverly Fletcher - Program Director
Fort Worth IndependentSchool District
Ric Grant - Assistant to Program Director
Linda Powell - Deputy Curator of Education Kimbell Art Museum
Jan Napora - Fort Worth Outlet Square Manager

SUPPORTED BY:
Forth Worth Independent School District
Kimbell Art Museum
Fort Worth Outlet Square


Beverly Fletcher, Art Consultant for the Fort Worth Independent School District, asked my art students; grads 9-12 and one special Education class to create "KIDS' GUERNICA". They were so excited and pleased that they were asked to be part of a world wide project of this magnitude.
I shared with the students the "KIDS' GUERNICA" packet and pictures of murals from other nations. I asked them to give great thought to what peacemeans to them, and if they had one wish for their friends in Japan, and around the world, what would it be? They brain-stormed for the mural and made sketches of their ideas. We talked about "Peace" and their many interpretations and meanings and came to a unanimous decision that our mural would be a giant fish bowl(our world). Each student would depict him or herself as a fish swimming across our waters to embrace our fellow man while carrying our peace statement of love and good will to Japan and all nations and people, for we are one people united in love. Ju Jun kim, an exchange student from Germany, painted the dove, our U.S. peace symbol, with an olive branch in its mouth as the focal point of the mural watching over all of us we people of the U.S.A., Japan and all nations, as one people joined together in love and peace. The beautiful mural depicts all of us as fish swimming together to be united as one in world peace. The fish are joyfully leaping every direction showing their happiness because we are united.
The student's reaction to the "KIDS' GUERNICA" was so very special. They were overwhelmed with the project, not only to the subject matter but to the enormous size of the mural (11 1/2 feet by 25 feet 5 3/4 inches, the same size of Picasso's Guernica). Motivation was at a height when they received the six large pieces of canvas which would become their mural and would be sewed together when finished as a giant quilt painted with love. This was definitely a hands-on project. They approached the project using everything they had learned in are this year employing all facets of creativity which were released when they began painting their peace statements with lavish and rich colors (acrylic) on canvas . Their final analysis was that this was the most exciting and rewarding art experience of their young lives. It was indeed a labor of love. Thank you, Japan.

Chidren:
Ju Youn Kim, 17
Juliana Oliverra, 16
Matt Casey , 17
Mike Coconower, 17
Casey Keisey, 16
Ann Curry, 16
Joe Joe Perez, 16
Edward Garcia, 17
Lauren Traylor, 16
Hannah Chorn, 17
Chris Gonzaga, 16
Adriana Delgadillo, 17
Micheal Jan Zandt, 17
Angie Galindo, 16
Gloria Rogers, 16
Kali Fletcher, 6
Jose Puente, 16
Nadia Saldivar, 16
Alicia Richards, 16
Ventura Gonzales, 17
Anabel Marquez, 16
Oscar Frias, 16
Gerado Granados, 16
Christine Smith, 16
Molly Huie, 16
Juan Santillan, 16
Tanya Berrios, 16
Marcelino Pena, 16
Sandy Anthis, 17
Jessica Barton, 16
Danielle Bassham, 17
Jessica Barton, 16
Angela Bassinger, 16
Stephen Alcaraz, 16
Peter Pena, 16
Isela Morales, 16
Erika Durain, 16
Jasi Rasels, 16
Josh Hallam, 16
Bertrand Judd, 16
Sarah Lewis, 17
Daniel Villeyas, 16
Michael Stockton, 17
Matt Tayior, 16
Juana Velralobos, 16
Anne Curry, 17
Chinh Tran, 16
Emilio Jimenez, 16
Mary Rouges, 16
Martin Moreno, 16
Sasenee Sieshi, 16
Oscar Lopez, 16
Angie Galindo, 17
Jessica Grurer, 16
Allyson Evans, 16
Gilbert Hernandez, 17
Josh Early, 16
Christina McGee, 16
Jesse River, 16
David Garcia, 17
Yolande Gutierrez, 16
Patricia Diaz, 16
A.Delegadilla, 17
Melissa Landa, 16
Lucila Duarte, 17
Chris Gonzaga, 16
Kim Keo, 17
James Medford, 16
Arianna Story, 16
Israel Raya, 16