Paint Love Project:
BRUMBY ELEMENTARY MURAL
Written by: Cara Hergenroether
Brumby mural
Partner: Brumby Elementary School
Artist: Muhammad Yungai, Candace Caston, and based on the character created by Micah Johnson
City: Marietta, GA
Year: 2022
To create the mural, which embodies the theme to dream without limits, Paint Love partnered with Brumby, a Title 1 elementary school, to bring the 19-foot-tall mural into the artistic hands of the students and transform a 1,100-square-foot retaining wall at the school.
At the center of the mural is Aku, the creation of former Atlanta Braves player Micah Johnson. Johnson gifted an NFT of Aku to Brumby for the project. Paint Love artist Candace Caston, along with Paint Love staff and volunteers and Brumby teachers, led students through conversations about their dreams and hopes. Each student then created and added their one-of-a-kind space-themed plant to the mural. Atlanta muralist Muhammad Yungai then painted Aku floating over the space garden, watering and nurturing the students’ plants.
“This project not only taught the students how to use art to express their dreams but, through our collaboration with the school and Muhammad Yungai, also showed them how teamwork can make big dreams like this big mural come true,” said Laura Shaw, Paint Love Executive Director. “Paint Love is honored to be part of a project that will continue to inspire Brumby students for years to come.”
STEAM + Technology Coach Sandra Lake and Special Education Teacher David Welch dreamed up this project and were instrumental in the completion of this project and played a key role in communicating with teachers, school administrators, and the county. This partnership brought Aku to the youth at Brumby Elementary School and stands as a reminder that they can do anything they put their minds to.
