Cardinal Adventure
Location: Corvian Elementary School
The story behind the work: In the summer of 2024, the Corvian Elementary School leadership welcomed me to paint a mural to celebrate the grand opening of their new school. The design was co-created with school leadership and inspired by the school’s cardinal mascot and whimsical design elements. It needed to feel fun, but not childish—something both students and adults could appreciate.
The result is an immersive installation that celebrates the growth the school provides. The mural features cardinals hidden throughout a colorful, botanical scene, creating an ongoing scavenger hunt that extends throughout the school and invites students, staff, and families to engage with the artwork. It’s an immersive experience that captures the spirit of Corvian’s learning community from the moment you walk through the door.
Materials & process: I decided not to use spray paint for this mural because I wanted to avoid dealing with overspray and fumes. As a result, the project took nearly three times more work than expected, as the entire piece was hand-painted with brushes using super-saturated colors. Despite the challenges, my team and I were able to deliver the mural three weeks ahead of schedule. A huge thank you to my friends Arko and Luvly for their incredible dedication and the countless hours they committed to making this happen!
The final installation included several elements that helped create an immersive experience:
A 19-foot-tall hand-painted mural featuring a colorful botanical scene and 10 cardinals, three visible and seven hidden within the mural.
20 laser-cut cardinals installed throughout the school to create an ongoing scavenger hunt for students, staff, and families.
Community impact: It was heartwarming to see these trusted leaders come together to create something meaningful for their educational community. I felt like part of the team, a truly special team. I’m honored to work with such incredible community leaders. It was also so heartwarming to meet their educational community after hearing so much about how wonderful the families and kids are.
Reflections: The mural is perfect for beginning- and end-of-year pictures, and I love imagining how it will become part of those milestones for years to come. I daydream about new students walking through those doors and being greeted by this mural, it gives me goosebumps. I hope it makes them feel welcomed, inspired, and excited to begin their journey. I also love imagining the hidden cardinals becoming part of the school’s traditions, with students discovering them year after year and passing the scavenger hunt on to the next class.
