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Argonne receives $20,000 grant from the City for schoolyard mural


The building where the mural will be painted in Argonne’s schoolyard

Last week, the Mayor’s office handed out their latest round of Community Challenge grants to local residents, businesses, schools, non-profits and other community groups for greening and beautification improvements.

Among the 28 recipients was the Argonne Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), who received a $20,000 grant for a new mural in the schoolyard.

The grant application was authored by Tina Eshaghpour, who has two children enrolled in Argonne. Eshaghpour chairs the GreenArgonne school committee, formed to lead green initiatives around campus, like the sidewalk gardens that were planted last October.

The new 53 ft. x 24 ft. mural will be painted on a south-facing wall of Argonne’s schoolyard, and will be visible from both Cabrillo and 17th Avenues.

“We expect the height and scale of the artwork will allow neighbors and all street and sidewalk traffic to enjoy it as they pass by,” Eshaghpour said.

The design of the mural is intended to reflect the history of the Richmond District, and it’s transformation from the past to present.

The mural’s contents and design are still under development, but Eshaghpour says they expect it to incorporate the diverse cultures, people and ecology of the neighborhood, including the neighborhood’s unique position between Golden Gate Park and the Presidio.

“The intention is to use it as an opportunity to help educate our students on the history of the Richmond and its past.” Eshaghpour said. “We see the students and families at Argonne as being representative of the changes that have taken place in the Richmond District.”

The grant money will be used to hire an artist who will design and lead the mural’s creation, and also conduct educational workshops with Argonne’s 420 students. Eshaghpour says that they will be leaning on parent volunteers to provide much of the labor for creating the mural, which will be completed in Spring 2013.

“We’re super excited about getting the grant,” Eshaghpour said. “It’s a chance for us to take learning beyond the classroom and give the students some hands-on experience.”

Sarah B.

5 Comments

  1. If you haven’t made it out to the sidewalk garden (which gets dedicated in a couple weeks), there’s a bright new tile mosaic flowing across the kindergarten playground wall, by…gonna have to punt and say one of the two artists who did the Moraga Tile Stairway (i.e. Aileen Barr and/or Colette Crutcher; the artist introduced herself but I forgot to take note of her name). I am sure the official announcement will have proper credit. Squirrels, birds, leaves, blossoms are arranged into a boquet along a meandering poem.

    As for the garden itself, the pitcher sage, mint, and lizard tail are resplendant, and the bush lupine have all but taken over the sidewalk; their cheery blue-and-white flowers have turned into rattling seed pods. Brightens my walk to the store.

  2. Sorry the garden pictures aren’t “there”, and I look forward to the mural.

  3. Per Argonne newsletter, mosaic is by Aileen Barr. Mosaic and edible garden dedication is July 21st, 2-4 PM.

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