For the first seven weeks of summer we were planning a mural and for the last 10 days we were painting it. A team of BHS Art Alumni gathered together in the same place we all started–the Art Room. If it wasn’t for our Art teacher and Art Mother,  we wouldn’t be here. In her teaching career, Mrs. Janet Sato has given students a lot more than an art education, but encouraged, challenged, and guided us in our life and careers. She may not realize what she has done for all of us but I think the success of this mural shows all that and more.  I found myself doing a lot of “back-end” work. I can not take credit for painting huge parts of the mural, but instead I was keeping tabs on our digital needs and building us a website. After the start of the project, I had flashbacks to grad school. I realized there had to be a way to document the process and share what everyone was putting into this project. I was impressed daily by the team and honored to be among so many talents artists. We sweat through our shirts and suffered bumps and bruises too, but no matter what we kept going until the mural was DONE. 

I took a chance and painted those little white flowers on the bottom. We saw this special flower, the Nohoanu (Geranium multiform, on our hike in Waikamoi Preserve. A very rare flower that only grows there, up in Haleakala. I haven’t picked up a paintbrush in years. Well, not one that required more than painting a single color on walls, but I am glad I did. I didn’t forget how to paint and I even got to collaborate with my junior and senior year English teacher on this one. How about that! Now that this is over, it’s a little bittersweet. We are happy to see the product of all our planning, but we are also sad to part ways again. This project brought together people who would not cross paths on a regular basis. Mrs. Sato holds us all together and we are lucky to have her to inspire, challenge, and bring out the best in us. This mural is one of the reasons I am happy to be here, giving back the the community and place that gave me so much. For the whole story visit www.bhsmural.com.