Spring is in full effect in the halls of Truckee Elementary where local artist Sara Smith is diligently painting lakes rivers dancing trees smiling rocks and thoughtful quotes. When you stop to take a look at this mural be sure to get up close. Smith is incorporating student drawings of insects salmon birds and more into the lush greenery and flowing streams.
Smith is an ‘artist in residence’ working throughout the children’s school days which provides students the opportunity to watch the artwork develop ask questions and learn a great deal about the process of art. One question that Smith gets asked is ‘Why are there faces in the rocks?’
‘When you are hiking have you ever felt that everything around you is alive?’ Smith responds. ‘Rocks are older than all of us.’
Katie Flynn and Alex Herrara copresidents of the PTO of Truckee Elementary hired Smith in February in accordance with the school’s vision of becoming more ‘green.’ The PTO has supported the mural including organizing parent volunteers Makaela Lamperti Amy Kylber Amy Easterbrook Tyana Torres Amber Pierce and Anne Jacobsen. Easterbrook Painting Contract Painting and Scott Edmondson Painting repainted the school walls before the mural began and Reno-Truckee Paint Mart donated the base paint.
The murals should be completed by Earth Day. View the murals on April 26 at the school’s open house or on Sara Smith’s website at saralsmith.com.
