New Art Mural Enriches Neighborhood
By Richard Babcock

Lowell Elementary School, in San Jose, has a recent addition to their campus in the form of an art mural residing on the corner of South 7th and Margaret Way. The muralist is Francisco Garcia, an art major at De Anza College. Francisco had worked on other murals but this was his first solo project to head up.

Professor Fallon, associate director of the Center for Community Learning and Leadership, an organization of San Jose State University which helps develop values such as social responsibility in students, was the key person in commencing the mural project. One of his students, Shuba Hampole, during her internship initiated the creation of the mural project. She had a happy surprise when Principal Lax of Lowell Elementary had wanted a mural on the Sunday friends facility.

Principal Lax had wanted the mural for some time because the corner was unattractive with the industrial crates that are there. She had contacted the organization Sunday Friends, a volunteer social services organization, a year before about the possibility of putting a mural on the most visible crate. Sunday Friends always is looking for projects to help support the school. They started the conversation with Professor Fallon who then introduced Shuba to it. Principal Lax corresponded with the School District Office and dealt with their concerns about the mural and was able in the end to get the go ahead from the school district to do the mural.

Shuba found Francisco when looking for a volunteer muralist when she chanced upon Carlos Valazquez, Marketing Manager of TeatroVision, at the Mexican Heritage Plaza. He connected her with Francisco, who was younger than she had expected, but any doubts were soon put aside when she had learned how much experience he had. He had worked on two previous murals with fellow students along with an impressive portfolio that showed Shuba his enthusiasm.

Francisco had problems setting up time to include the students from 5th grade in the process of making the mural since Francisco is going to school full time at De Anza and the students' school schedule usually didn't coincide with Francisco's schedule. The mural took a long time to complete from the planning to the completion of painting. The students had a theme of what they wanted it to be when they grew up and illustrated their ideas. Francisco took the kids' ideas and drew a cartoon for the mural emphasizing what the kids wanted to be when they grew up. He says the whole mural is centrally the kids' ideas, views, and plans for their future.

Students from SJSU Tau Delta Phi enthusiastically participated in preparation, priming, and also the painting of the mural. They were emotionally committed through the long process as their initial enthusiasm continued through till the end.

Home Depot provided most of the paint for the mural and the rest came from private donations. With the construction of the mural, Francisco labored over the painting when it was hard to know what to do. He loved doing the painting and got lost in the act when he knew his direction. He felt the site was perfect and in the right place at the beginning of downtown San Jose.

It was rewarding for Francisco when people walked by and said it, "looked great!" and "good job." Principal Lax was very supportive throughout the construction, and even more ecstatic when it was completed. Everyone there said they really appreciated the finished mural. Francisco felt it was his biggest accomplishment to date. He plans to put it in his portfolio and resume'. It is a truly impressive mural and a great addition to the community where it resides.

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