Two bold, blue hands reach to grasp hands in front of a large cross. Tiles in shades of blue, gold and gray flow across the building, reflecting a symbolic message of fellowship on the walls of the San Jose Valley Korean Church of the Nazarene. From sketches on paper to paint on stone, the Mural Movement club has turned ideas into reality.
“There was a new member that thought that our church was closed because it looked so rundown and uninviting,” art teacher Yoonsun Chai said. “And then I heard about Olivia’s mural club.”
The club, led by junior Olivia Moon, works to positively impact the community through murals. Their first project, proposed by Chai, was recently completed at the church that Chai attends in San Jose.
“It had to be simple enough so that we could all participate and do it in two weeks,” club member junior Alina Safina said.
They settled on geometric shapes surrounding a stained glass-inspired central mural across the exterior walls of the church, with pops of yellow and blue. The finalized design is meant to “lead the eyes along the length of the wall,” according to Olivia.
But its minimalistic style does not mean that the mural lacks significance. Chai intended the shapes to be symbolic of the people in the church.
“Starting from the stained glass, the different shapes of triangles and rectangles spread out across the church, like how the different shapes of people spread the gospel and influence the world,” Chai said.
In its first day working, the club completed the mural’s groundwork, painting layers of white primer and taping the design into place. In the second meeting on the job, the club got to painting the mural. After Olivia completed final touch-ups, the mural was finished on Tuesday, February 13.
The building now displays 12 total hours of work in acrylic. Unlike before, the previously barren walls are now full of life, catching the eyes and attention of the public.
“Even the neighbors who walk by compliment how beautiful the church is now,” Chai said.
I attended a church service afterwards and I heard people talking about it, and it was really heartwarming to see how we changed the space.
— Mural Movement club president junior Olivia Moon
“I attended a church service afterwards and I heard people talking about it, and it was really heartwarming to see how we changed the space,” Olivia said.
And the church’s restoration wasn’t the only positive outcome.
“I saw people who I’ve never seen together just immediately start working and cooperating,” Olivia said. “It’s really wonderful to see.”
Chai applauds Olivia’s efforts in particular; from planning and organizing the whole event to bringing all the students, she successfully led the project from start to finish.
“This project was actually really big for high school students,” Chai said. “She managed really well, and was very responsible throughout the whole process.”
Moving forward, the Mural Movement plans to create more artwork this year, including for local animal shelters and the College and Career Center on the LAHS campus.
“My goal is to provide murals to people who are in need of it,” Olivia said.
Find the Mural Movement on Instagram at @muralmovement or join club meetings, which are held every other week on Wednesdays in room 913.
