By Amanda Moses
Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines art as the use of creative imagination to expresses ideas and feelings; however, not everyone is afforded an opportunity to tap into their artistic side. It is with this in mind that Spring Creek Teen Central and muralist May Bukowski have teamed up to break through that barrier.
In February, Teen Central invited Bukowski to work with members, allowing them to embrace their passions through art. Over the course of two months, Bukowski and the teens discussed what the Teen Center means to them, and in doing so, discovered their favorite recreational activities. After brainstorming, the group then put pen to paper to create images that represent Teen Central.
“We do an entire month of classroom sessions where they brainstorm ideas and then I put them all into one design and then we spend a month painting it,” Bukowski told the Spring Creek Sun.
“It’s to really brighten up the room and then show all the facets of what they enjoy doing at Teen Central, showing all of their interests and what they really come here to have fun doing. They come here to get away from school and everything and just enjoy spending time with each other. So, a large component of this project was making connections between different people,” Bukowski said.
On March 19th, the first 6ft x 15 ft mural was completed. Located in the Teen Central lounge, this large painting depicts basketball, photography, signing and the many nuances that make up the community. The teens will start designing the next mural on May 1st and will be located in the quiet room where many of the teen girls gather to talk, create podcasts, participate in photography assignments and discuss beauty.
“We wanted the teens to have access to art, so we invited a muralist to come and work with the members so that they can bond and build memories together while also reinforcing art programming,” Teen Central Site Coordinator, Gavin Edey said. “Our member Darwin really took to the mural and probably painted about 60% of it.”
Bukowski states that she was really proud of Darwin and how he embraced the project and was able to paint as well as talk about his day with friends.
Bukowski likewise says she herself was driven by the need to spread the love of art to others and sure ensure that individuals of all ages, especially those in underserved communities, have access to express themselves freely.
