Roughly a dozen public art class students at Southern Local High School are making their mark on the hallways of Southern Local Elementary by painting designs and adding uplifting messages that not only brighten the spaces but also the younger students’ lives. The project should wrap up by Christmas break and pictured putting their unique touches are students, from left, Brody Hamilton, Jack Pelley, Mason Sosack, Christian Pearson and Jacob Fortner. (Submitted photo)

SALINEVILLE – Southern Local High School art students are marking their mark by adorning the walls at Southern Local Elementary with their own unique touches.

Students in Kimberly Adams’ first-period public art class have been meeting each Monday to create original works in the corridors of the building. From references to the children’s classic, “Curious George,” to uplifting messages, the teens are brightening not only the hallways but also the younger students’ lives.

“They came up with drawings to incorporate in the elementary side,” Adams said. “We started during the third week of school and started to draw. They had to do a project description and present it to [SLES Principal Emily] Smith.”

The teens started in the preschool and kindergarten hallway and continued into the main hallway outside the music, art and gym classrooms, while more work is being done near the girls’ restroom and cafeteria. Adams said the designs may also be used as teaching tools for the underclassmen.

“They want to promote positivity by painting quotes and drawing flowers and bugs that the teachers can use for plant identification,” she said. “There are colored pencils of various heights, a tree by the music room that worked with my central idea of doing the school fight song, and Curious George swinging in a tree. It should be done by Christmas break.”

This is Adams’ first year as a high school art teacher, having spent her previous experience teaching at SLES. She said the public art class includes about a dozen students in grades 10-12 and is unlike other art courses.

“It’s a general topics class and I wanted to do something that was a little different and a way to get them engaged, not only in the community but to put something out there as an option,” Adams explained. “This spring, we will look at careers in art and I will introduce different courses and we’ll talk to professionals in various careers.”