First permanent artwork displayed on campus
While passing by O’Donnell Gym at San Benito High School, a
psychedelic mural of a man is visible. Painted on a cement block,
the mural of a man smoking a cigarette and motioning to shoot
himself symbolizes the dangers of tobacco products such as
cigarettes. The Annual Anti-Tobacco Art Contest winner SBHS Senior
Connor Pratt transformed the block into a work of art.
First permanent artwork displayed on campus
While passing by O’Donnell Gym at San Benito High School, a psychedelic mural of a man is visible. Painted on a cement block, the mural of a man smoking a cigarette and motioning to shoot himself symbolizes the dangers of tobacco products such as cigarettes. The Annual Anti-Tobacco Art Contest winner SBHS Senior Connor Pratt transformed the block into a work of art.
Pratt said it “feels good” to have his artwork displayed in such a manner.
“I feel that maybe I’ll be able to do [a mural] again, not necessarily at the school but maybe again,” Pratt said.
The painting of the mural all began with the Tobaction club at SBHS. The club is well known for raising awareness of the dangers of tobacco products. The club gives out posters, holds a booth during the BLTs (baler lunch time), and has their Annual Anti Tobacco Art Contest, which Pratt won in Spring 2008.
Usually when the Anti-Tobacco contest is held, winners are picked and receive prizes such as a gift card. However the club members decided to make changes to what the prize should be. The members said they believed that the winner should be given the opportunity to take their artwork and transform it into a mural on campus.
The idea was taken to the administration and they thought it was a good idea. Administrator Andy Prisco said that the mural did a good job at getting the “message across in an artistic, cool way.”
Soon after the OK, Pratt began working on the mural using latex acrylic paint supplied by art teacher John Robrock, who was also in charge of approving the artwork before it was enlarged as a mural. Pratt spent two school days working on the project.
In addition to painting the mural, Pratt also came in third in the Union Bank’s seventh annual Young Artist Contest in the category, “Pride and Empowerment.” Drawings were submitted based on the theme “Hispanic Heritage and Culture” and the bank staff received 271 entries. The category “Pride and Empowerment” was created this year because of the caliber of artwork and stories submitted by San Benito High School students. Chalyse Elizabeth Armstrong took first place and Arielle Ogas took second.
“The beautiful artwork and the stories behind these students’ artwork inspired Union Bank to create this new category,” said Greg Kershaw, a spokesperson for Union Bank, in an e-mail, “One that truly celebrates the pride of Hispanic culture and honors its history.”
The students were honored at an awards ceremony at the Steinbeck Center in Salinas Dec. 4 and a $1,000 award will go to San Benito High School.
