Paul Mencke, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, paints with local children at WSU’s recent Freedom School.
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| Mural created by WSU student David Padilla and local children. |
PULLMAN, Wash. – A Washington State University faculty member and an undergraduate student teamed up with local children to paint colorful murals depicting Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.
The painting project was part of Freedom School hosted by WSU’s Culture and Heritage Houses in mid-October.
The mural led by Pauline Sameshima, associate professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, is on display in the Lighty Student Services Building at the 2nd floor north entrance. The other mural, envisioned by David Padilla, a junior from Pasco, Wash., is expected to be displayed on the first floor of Cleveland Hall near the main entrance within the next couple of days.
Freedom School was coordinated by Marc A. Robinson, director of the Culture and Heritage Houses, Robinson’s staff, Paul Mencke, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, and Linda Heidenreich Zuñiga, associate professor in Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies.
Fourteen children, ages 2 to 14, and 15 adults from the Pullman community participated.
According to Robinson, the goal of Freedom School was to provide people with an educational experience in honor of Chicano/Latino Heritage Month.
“With age appropriate content on Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, along with contemporary issues in Chicano/Latino Studies, we intended to promote knowledge and appreciation of diverse groups in a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere,” Robison said.
Cesar Chavez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, along with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chavez died in 1993. Huerta is 82 years old and still serves as president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation which develops leaders and advocates for the poor, women, and children.
Freedom school facilitators showed a film and engaged participants in lively discussions about Chavez, Huerta, and social justice issues. But it was the painting project that allowed them to display their creativity and artistic talent.
Robinson said Sameshima and Padilla had their own ideas about how they wanted to engage the children with their art.
“The Sameshima mural started as a detailed outline designed by her,” he said. “Paul and one of our graduate assistants, Destiny Bush, had pre-painted the faces in the middle and let the children paint the border during Freedom School.”
“David started his mural much the same, but did not provide any clear direction for how it should be finished,” said Robinson. “The children took over the painting but left it up to our undergraduate workers to complete the masterpiece.”
Paula Groves Price, associate professor in Teaching and Learning, donated the canvasses, paint, and paintbrushes. The murals are expected to remain on display for about two weeks.