Vibrant Pasadena High School Mural Celebrates Qualities of a Bulldog

INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS

The team hard at work (Photo – Alicia Gorecki)

PHS Students will see a vivid and inspiring mural at the beginning of the 2019/2020 school year.

By Alicia Gorecki

Principal Robert Hernandez challenged the mural interns in the Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA) of PHS to develop a concept and create a mural emblematic of the aspirations of PHS. Participating in a mural internship is an opportunity provided to every college and career academy student between junior and senior year. Applicants create a resume and application and are then invited to interview for the right-fit position and a course on professionalism.  The participating students earn a stipend and are honored at an intern celebration in the Fall.

This year the VADA interns were Jaylin Zavala, Angelique Banks, Gracie Juntrapen, Paloma Castro, Gigi Justo, Leslie Mejia and Stephanie Mejia.

Getting started and putting final touches (Photo – Alicia Gorecki)

Inspired by mythology and ancient Greek and Roman vase aesthetics, the students designed a mural to fit the diversity and attributes of the PHS student body. In the center of the mural is a three-headed bulldog (the school mascot) version of Cerberus acting as guardian of all things PHS. Each head of the bulldog wears a unique medallion celebrating the characteristics of a Bulldog: a Bulldog is Gentle, a Bulldog has Perseverance and a Bulldog has Strength. A Bulldog has GPS!

The many interests, areas of study and creativity found in PHS students are featured in the figures and symbols circling the mural.  The figures all are making their way to the graduation cap, helping each other and supported by Ms. Alicia Gorecki (VADA lead teacher) and Mr. Jacob Archuleta (GCA lead teacher).

The interns in front of the finished work (Photo – Alicia Gorecki)

This awesome mural can be seen at the PHS campus at 2925 E. Sierra Madre Boulevard.  Head to the stairwell between the ground and second floor of the G and H buildings.  Note that the campus will be closed during the month of July and reopen in August.

Alicia Gorecki is the lead teacher for the Visual Arts and Design Academy at Pasadena High School and an active local Visual Artist with a studio practice.

Created by… (Photo – Alicia Gorecki)

The finished mural (Photo – Alicia Gorecki)