8th Grade Student Artists Unveil New Mural

12/1/2022

Over the past several weeks, twelve 8th grade student artists have been working alongside a well known DC artist, Trap Bob, on the installation of a new mural on the 3rd floor of the Middle School. Yesterday, Trap Bob joined the students and Sara Hawkins, Director of Visual Arts Grades 1-8, for a ceremony to unveil the mural. 

The mural was created using words of leadership chosen by the 8th graders to represent their class. The words that the students selected, words including "Powerful", "Brave", "Special", and "Pride", speak to the qualities that the students see in their class and community, and they will now be a permanent part of the hall where 8th grade students spend a lot of their time coming and going from their classes. 

The work uses Trap Bob's signature bold colors and style to highlight the words chosen by the students. Trap Bob has partnered with Lab in the past for the annual Identity, Arts, Music, and Unity (IAMU) celebration where she facilitated workshops and discussions about the art process and identity with Lab students. She is a multidisciplinary artist based in Washington, DC whose work is frequently inspired by activism and community issues.

At the unveiling ceremony, students shared the word they had selected and explained its importance and how they saw it represented in their community. As a thank you to Trap Bob for her guidance, she was presented with flowers that matched the same bold colors that distinguishes her work. Students and faculty enjoyed a few snacks for the occasion as they admired the new art that will be a fixture in the Middle School for years to come.