As muralists for over four decades, instructors Ellen and Don have become advocates for community-involved mural making as a means for building community, uniting diverse community participants, attracting interest in downtown centers, and celebrating pride in cultural/historical visual narratives. In this course, the Elmes will share their knowledge of the process, from writing and gaining funding for a community project proposal; to engaging community members in the research, storytelling, and creating of a final design; to the process of involving community artists in hand painting the final design on fabric panels; to the process of permanently installing and preserving the fabric panels on the wall; and, finally, to planning an unveiling or dedication event for a big-bash community celebration! This course is recommended not only for artists, but also for community arts organizers and directors, art teachers, and Main Street town/city planners. It’s a “how-to” class, including presentation, discussion, and demonstration by Ellen and Don, as well as numerous PowerPoint slides of people and project sites they have been engaged with from the 1980s until the present time.

Limit: 20 students, ages 16 and up.