A section of the mural in various stages of progress. (Grace Harrison’20/Staff)

Beginning mid-May, a group of teens were hard at work painting four panels of a mural at the home of Laurie Van Balen, director of the Columbus Crossing Borders Project, the organization who featured an art exhibit at Academy last December. Van Balen created an offshoot group called Communities Joining for Art and Murals (C-JAM) “for community teens to join with central Ohio refugee youth to create murals that will be donated to locations in our communities.” 

The mural features colorful depictions of flowers, plants, and animals from different countries. Each different species had a printed reference picture, so it could be painted as accurately as possible. According to Mrs. Van Balen, the mural reflects “themes of unity and humanity.”

Students ranging in age from 12-18 and from Licking County, Van Balen’s art classes, Columbus Academy, and recently-arrived refugee teens are working together on the project. It’s a way for the teens who have recently arrived in the USA to feel welcome and meet people. 

Once completed, the mural will be installed at the Pataskala Municipal Parks swimming pool. Van Balen said, the pool “attracts many children, and I would like children everywhere to appreciate beautiful scenes inspired by global unity and the connectivity of humanity through world cultures.” 

Van Balen will be orchestrating the creation of several more murals through the C-JAM program. Please contact Dr. Broh for further information.