Mural Project Making a Big Impact at Comstock

Students in the Thriving Minds after-school program at Comstock Middle School are leaving their mark on campus—literally. Through a visual art residency led by Steven Beck, an advanced placement art teacher at Dallas Independent School District’s Townview Magnet Center, the students are creating a large-scale mural that will remain a permanent feature in the Comstock cafeteria. The goal of the project is to instill a sense of pride in the students for their school and to bring the community closer, says Lisa Schmidt, an instructional specialist for Big Thought, which manages the Thriving Minds after-school program.

To jumpstart the project, Beck met with Comstock students to brainstorm what the mural should symbolize. The resulting images and words are representative of the unique mix of cultures that make up the student body, and the topics and issues they feel are most relevant to their lives today. Beck then took the ideas and worked with his students at Townview to develop initial sketches of the mural.

Since then, nearly 35 students from both schools have come together to work on the piece, and are committing their time after school every Tuesday and Thursday through May to complete the project. The spirit of collaboration has also spread to the community; in February, parents and teachers joined the students for two Saturdays to lend a hand. The final mural will be unveiled during a special Cinco de Mayo celebration in May.