Bardstown High School visual arts gifted and talented students recently completed a special community project at Bourbon City Bark Park. They painted two colorful murals that bring fun and joy to the space.
The project came together through a collaboration between Bardstown City Schools, Bourbon City Bark Park, and the Green Dot program at Flaget Memorial Hospital. Misty Roller, Green Dot program coordinator, approached BHS art teacher Angela Ford with the idea. Ford and Amy Adams, former Gifted and Talented Coordinator and current 5th grade teacher, turned it into a project for the visual arts gifted and talented students. Green Dot sponsored the activity, providing food and supplies.
One mural, painted on the restroom stalls, was designed by senior Emma Walls. “The inspiration behind my mural design was simple: I wanted to create a fun design that incorporated dog-themed things, such as food, toys, and bones. The muddy paw prints were meant to flow to both stalls, some of them having cute quotes as a way to tie in more fun,” Emma said. “When people see the mural, I hope they stop and laugh at some of the quotes we chose. But not only that, I hope they see something interesting or cute and stop to look at the whole picture. It makes me so incredibly happy to know that everyone will see my design.”
Junior Katy Floyd shared the challenges of painting a large-scale mural: “Creating such a large piece of art was a bit of a struggle, mainly when keeping the colors the same and making it look both good and cartoonish, and trying not to overdo it. To have my artwork displayed in a public place is a nice feeling. I hope people have their day brightened when they see my mural or feel happier, happiness means a lot to me.”
Freshman Delia Ramey added, “I have learned confidence. When I first went to start this work, I was scared that I would mess it up or that people wouldn’t like it. By the end I was no longer scared. I had gained some form of confidence in myself that I didn’t have before. This mural was a project to spread light and happiness to others’ lives. I hope those who see it feel a little better or happier than before.”
A total of 14 students participated: Emma Walls, Tasha Durbin, Delia Ramey, Sydnie Deweese, Zeek Mattingly, Madison Snellen, Alexandria Colwell, Alma Delgado Hernandez, Katy Floyd, Jazmine Kruzich, Josie O’Daniel, Daniela Sanchez Hernandez, Kylie Tanner, and Sydney Willoughby-Powell.
The murals not only enhance the park’s look but also show how student art can make a real difference in the community.
