Posted on: Thursday, March 3, 2005
Mural coming along fine but wall poses a problem
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KAILUA — Kainalu Elementary School pupils, parents and staff are painting a 50th anniversary mural, but now they may have to raise an extra $5,000 to install it on a lead-free surface.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser "It may cost $5,000 or more to clean the wall because we can't put the tile on paint and you can't get volunteers to do it because it has to be done by experts," she said. The school awaits more tests for asbestos that may have been used in the construction of the buildings. Asbestos removal would add even more to the cost, Wills said.
"It was something we did not plan for," she said. "We have to make a plea somehow."
The 4-by-30-foot mural has been under construction for about three weeks with the help of local artist Thomas Deir. Plans started last year with the artist asking the children, parents and teachers to develop a concept of what they wanted. They came up with a beach scene and a book that tells the history of the school, which has a strong music program.
While many of the pupils and parents have been invited to participate, about 80 sixth-graders are doing most of the work, many painting for the first time in their lives. They shed any apprehension with a few lessons and a bit of practice, Deir said.
"What I'm trying to capture is how a child feels about going to this particular school," said Deir, who has completed eight other school murals across the island.
Deir's approach worked for Keegan Giles, 11, who said the mural captured how he felt about school and gave him a new appreciation for art.
"It made me think art is more fun especially when you're working with other people," Keegan said.
Casey Runnels, 11, and Lohi Chu, 12, didn't think they could paint a mural, but they overcame their doubts. And it was fun, said Casey.
"It became simpler as we went along," Lohi said.
Deir hits them with the basics: planning the project, showing them some simple math and how to use a brush. Then they learn to paint a rainbow and a tree, he said.
"It's amazing that by just painting a rainbow and painting a coconut tree, their confidence is way up there because they never thought they could do it," Deir said.
The mural shows pages from a book blowing across the sands of Kailua Bay as music drifts over the blue water.
Yesterday the children worked on details, skin tones, lettering on T-shirts, shoes and clothing.
Michael Connelly, 11, said patience is important when working on the details.
Marcus Hall, 11, said he liked the idea of being able to return to the school someday to show the artwork to his children.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
Volunteers were scheduled to remove the surface paint — a necessary process to install the mural's tile components — from the wall on E Building. But tests showed that the paint used on the structure contained lead, said Sandra Wills, curriculum coordinator at Kainalu Elementary. Now professionals must be hired, Wills said.
Mural designer Thomas Deir discusses a detail of the artwork with Marcus Hall, 11. Some of the other sixth-graders working on the mural are Lohi Chu, foreground, and Keegan Giles, across from Deir.
