Budding artists continue to enhance

By Steve Freker

It has become a creative staple of the summer now and Malden High School is now an annual beneficiary. Since the summer of 2022 — when the project originated—and rolling right into this season, a group of students in the Mayor’s Youth Summer Employment Program (MYSEP) have worked to create lasting artwork on the walls of Malden High School. The first foray was a project that infused the walls and pillars of the largest Cafeteria at MHS with a wonderland of sports-themed art, replete with many figures representing nearly every sport in the Golden Tornado athletic program. Other projects have followed, primarily murals in the Cafeterias and other MHS first-floor walls with each year’s group of budding artists contributing to new and innovative artistic contributions.

The student artists, who work nearly exclusively in water-soluble, acrylic paint, are under the direction of MYSEP supervisor Emily Gonzalez, who will be beginning her fifth year as an Art Teacher at the Salemwood K-8 School this fall. Gonzalez said she has been impressed each year with the effort and commitment her youth work groups have shown through the years. She noted that many of the teens who participate in the art-related work had little to no experience in any type of artistic endeavor.

“We are assigned students, a lot of them who had not requested this type of work, or any art-related work at all,” Gonzalez said, “and we teach them, we work with them. It is inspiring how they can learn a new skill and produce such beautiful art.”

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and Malden High School Principal Chris Mastrangelo have both had high praise for the young residents’ artwork and contributions to the positive looks for the school. “I never cease to be amazed at what the youth of Malden can create when afforded the opportunity,” the mayor added. “I am so impressed by this project. It is a great contribution to our high school and community.”

MHS Principal Mastrangelo said the artistic murals have been great additions to MHS. “Our students and staff really appreciate what these artists are contributing,” Mastrangelo said. “They have transformed our cafeterias into warmer, more welcoming gathering spots with this artwork.”

The latest addition to the “MHS Collection” is a mural on the west wall of Cafeteria “A” featuring the school mascot, the NEDLAM lion, ascending a colorful staircase, under a colorful rainbow. Already, following the completion of that extensive 15-foot mural, the artists are working on several mini-murals around the cafeteria that they intend to complete before the end of the summer program in mid-August.

Gonzalez said the youth workers take a lot of pride in their projects, noting that the finished product is a tangible one. “Their work here will live on; they really feel they have made a valuable contribution. That is a life skill learned through the MYSEP program and that is always our primary goal.”