JUST DUCKY: Students create color mural with artist

You’ve probably heard of Banksy, the anonymous street artist famous around the world for his poignant pieces.

Well, at the Village School last week, students learned from Boston-based artist-in-residence Bren Bataclan, who travels the world giving away his paintings and working with students to create dynamic murals. He’s painted more than 300 murals and his most recent is right here in Marblehead. He works mostly in acrylics and has created hundreds of cartoon-like characters.

Before breaking out the paints, Bataclan spends a few hours workshopping with the kids

“I talk about the power of kindness through art,” Bataclan told the Current as he was working on a 20-by-10 foot mural at Village. “I show samples of my work from canvases to murals. Then I show students how to draw my characters. And then they create their own characters, which is what I’m painting right now.”

For the Village School mural, Principal Scott Williams and the school’s art teachers Julie McCarthy and Gina Semple selected a theme tied to the school mascot — ducks — which also serves as an acronym for dynamic, unique, caring, kind and safe.

“Bren divided up all the grades and gave them specific assignments,” McCarthy explained.  “For ‘unique,’ students drew things like snowflakes or gems. For ‘safe,’ there were crossing guards. For ‘caring,’ hands holding a heart.”

Students drew their images on paper and Bataclan picked about 40 to recreate, larger-than-life, on the wall near the front office.

Fifth-grader Quentin Callahan drew a superhero cat, who fights off bad guys and keeps everyone safe. He was thrilled when Bataclan painted his character on the wall.

“This is so cool, honestly, because I want to be a cartoonist when I grow up,” Callahan said. “I’ve just liked drawing ever since I was young.”

Callahan said he’s looking forward to walking past the mural every day at school.

“Even if I get used to it, I’m sure I’m gonna notice something new every time,” he said.

Bataclan and the art teachers staged a big reveal on Friday afternoon, so the whole school could see the finished product.

“The students have real ownership and connection to this mural,” McCarthy said after the project was complete. 

The Village School PTO funded Bataclan’s visit. You can learn more about his work at bataclan.com.