By: Bridget Dawson and Jade Werblow

This Tuesday, Conard high school officially unveiled a cunning, and inspiring mural for the Conard community. A celebration was held in front of the mural to commemorate the completion of Conard’s biggest piece of art on campus. The event brought students together, such as the Conard band and even special guest speakers. The mural was painted by Julie Bergeron, and designed by teen volunteers and artists. According to Bergeron, the mural’s main focal point and inspiration was the feature quote, “I belong here.”  Conard’s new mural combines color, community and contemporary art, showcasing the importance of Conard’s growing diverse community, and the positive impact Conard has on its students.  

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Conard assistant principal Lindsay Tringali led the project and is incredibly proud of the work that everyone has put in to make it remarkable. The theme of the mural. “I belong here” is one very dear to her, as she connects with students who need this reminder often. At the unveiling, Tringali (with permission) shared the story of a past student Agatha. Agath pleaded to Mrs. Tringali “through tears”, that “ no one at school had ever cared about her” Agatha explained that she had never had a place where she truly belonged, to which Mrs Tringali responded, “‘You belong here.’” What to some, may seem like a cliché phrase, is truly a life changing statement. Agatha went on to be her graduation class’ speaker and the first in her family to graduate high school. Conard is where she truly belonged. Agatha says, “There are people who help you feel like life is not so hard after all” and she is grateful to the people who “showed [her] that [she] belong[ed]” at Conard. Agatha's moving story and testament are a prime example of why the phrase “I belong here” is so moving, and incredibly necessary to share with students. 

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Conard’s new beautiful mural was all thanks to the RiseUp for Arts group. The RiseUp for Arts is a project that was started by the RiseUp non-profit organization in 2015. The goal of this group is to create art that is inclusive and accessible to all.  RiseUp nonprofit itself was founded in 2012 as a youth development and mentoring program that helps youth develop skills that they need to inspire and improve their communities. RiseUp required youth to participate in community service, and in 2015 RiseUp painted a large mural in Hartford, and that first mural started up the whole RiseUp for Arts program. So far, this project has completed over 250 murals throughout Connecticut. RiseUp for Arts works with many local artists, communities, and over 1000+ volunteers each year to help create their beautiful pieces of art. As RiseUP for Arts is a non-profit, all of their murals are created with the help of the public, through donations and grants.

Conard prides itself on its massively diverse student population; as they boast that their students can speak an impressive 46 different languages. And because of Conard’s diverse population it is important that they make sure all of their students feel included in the school's community. Which is another reason for the “I belong here” quote being included in their mural. The RiseUp for Arts project strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality in all of their public art. Not only do they believe in celebrating the diverse cultures from around the world, they also involve artists from underrepresented communities to participate in the creation of art. Not only will this mural help to reassure students, it also serves a much more simple purpose; to beautify Conard’s brick building. With its many colors, and a simple minimalistic design, it definitely brings so much light to Conard’s older building. 

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The mural’s celebration gave Conard an opportunity to gather students together as a team.  For those in attendance, the stories and reflections from Conard’s community influenced many to embark on a moment of reflection upon their own experiences at Conard. During the celebration- students, teachers, and attending guests were asked how the mural highlights Conard’s core values. Many students claimed that the new mural inspired them to consider Conard’s impact on their personal lives, and how it led them to question their school’s impact on themselves. 

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“I think this mural just shows how interconnected the Conard community is, how it reflects that. It reflects our community and our compassion for each other.” - Conard student

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     “[This mural]... means togetherness and being yourself.” - Conard student

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    “This mural… means to me that everyone belongs here.” - Conard student 

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For many students, Conard is a second home. This mural isn't just for art, it's for the recognition of Conard’s everlasting commitment to the student community. Conard’s mural not only looks good, but it also carries the voices and experiences of every student as a whole. This mural, and its story, reflects Conard’s impact on so many students in West Hartford. 

Thank you to RiseUp for Arts, and Conard high school for promoting inclusivity and beautification of the Conard community. 

 

Sources:
Weha.com