BOISE, Idaho — The Foothills School of Arts and Sciences has unveiled a new mural painted by artists from local art collaborative Sector Seventeen. According to a news release, the mural honors the neighborhood, local vegetation and features a photo chosen by students to represent the school.
"We want to honor the history of the community we reside in, as knowing our history informs the responsibilities we carry into the future. Our project-based approach to learning often results in meaningful community connections for our students, helping to inspire our practice of being the kind of community we envision for the world," said Foothills' Head of School Nick Cofod.
The River Street neighborhood was historically a more diverse area and Black families, along with Chinese, Basque and Latino immigrants were the main population. The students picked an image from the Boise City Department of Arts & History's 'River Street Neighborhood Collection' of images to be included in the mural.
The students picked an image to "highlight the arts through time." The image comes from a collection from the "Andre Family Orchestra" where a young woman, Erma Hayman, is sitting in front of a piano surrounded by other members.
Hawk Sahlein and Collin Pfeifer painted the mural, Sahlein was also a former student.
"Foothills School of Arts and Sciences has commissioned Sahlein, an alum of the Pre-K to 9th-grade independent school, and Pfeifer to help tell the story of Foothills School and the River Street neighborhood. This wrap-around, two-story mural located at the intersection of 9th Street and Miller Street helps build a sense of place in this unique, historic downtown school location," the release stated.
The mural also has local vegetation incorporated to encapsulate the foothills experience.
"Being encouraged to think for myself and being able to pursue what I'm most passionate about are two of the most valuable things I learned from Foothills," Sahlein said.
The school said the public is free to stop by and check out the art.
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