Advanced art students brightening BFHS hallways

For junior Nate Schwartz, the hallways at Bonners Ferry High School lacked color.

Schwartz and his classmates in teacher Josh Knaggs’ advanced art class are changing that.

The juniors and seniors are painting murals at the entrances for its wings for what’s known at Project Paint the School. Each mural is curriculum-based.

The mural in the wing with government classes will include Martin Luther King, Statue of Liberty, Twin Towers and an eagle with an American Flag. It also will include excerpts from King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

“I hopes it makes people remember the thick and thin and hard times,” said Schwartz, who did the drawing of King for the mural. “I’m proud of what we’re doing and I think it will be remembered.”

Knaggs hopes to take the project far beyond the hallways.

“We’re just not stopping,” he said. “We’re going to do them in the library, cafeteria and janitorial closet.”

Principal Curt Randall-Bayer pitched the concept of the project to Knaggs.

“He came to me with ideas on how to improve the school climate,” Knaggs said.

For the hallway in the locker room, ideas were brought to the table and a sports theme was chosen.  It took students 3 1/2 weeks to complete the murals.

“”We had some kids stay after school (to help),” Knaggs said.

At the entrance to the auditorium, the mural is once again curriculum-based for band and drama. The mural contains microphones, a Nutcracker for the production traditionally staged in December and rules to follow when attending performances.

Student Zach Roush likes the idea of brightening up the school.

“I think it looks really good,” Roush said.

Senior Aaron Stockdale said he thinks the project is cool.

“It will be my artwork here through all the years,” Stockdale said.