Murals at Empire

Two New Playground Murals at Empire Elementary
Posted on 08/30/2019
This is the image for the news article titled Two New Playground Murals at Empire ElementaryTwo new murals at Empire Elementary School completed by artists Bryce Chisholm and Bill Louis, celebrated completion with a ribbon-cutting Friday, August 30. The ceremony was hosted by Carson City School District officials and the Carson City Department of Arts and Culture.

The two murals are meant to encourage students to “Reach For The Stars,” a school-wide theme at Empire Elementary School designed to inspire students to achieve their dreams.

In early August, public art panel including Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes and Susan Squires, the school’s principal, as well as two students who attend Empire, met in the Adams Hub studio, and selected two artists to create murals for either side of the playground wall.

Chisholm and Louis each received a $1,250 stipend. The project overseen by Carson City’s arts and culture office, who sent out the initial request for qualifications and received 24 applications.

“That was an astounding number to receive,” Mark Salinas, arts and culture coordinator, told the panel. “In 2016 or 2017, there was another mural done and we got six applications.”

The panelists viewed slides of four pieces of artwork submitted by each artist, who were identified only by a number, and then voted on their top two choices.

The other panelists were John Rains, a graphic designer and resident in Ward 3 where Empire Elementary is located; Carolina Garcia, the school’s Parent Teachers Association vice president; and two Cultural Commission members, Mylo McCormick and Guadalupe Ramirez.

The selected artists Chisholm and Louis submitted sketches of their proposed murals, which were reviewed and approved by Salinas and the school district.

“The Carson City Arts and Culture Master Plan includes an Arts Education Initiative which plans and secures resources to foster an inviting and creative learning environment for youth,” said Salinas. “I’m delighted to see the actions of such a municipal document expressed as smiles on the faces of parents and children as seen at Friday’s ribbon-cutting.”