On Tuesday, November 25, a small group of students, staff, parents and guardians gathered in the middle school cafeteria for a moment that combined history, student creativity, and the school’s core values. The occasion was a mural dedication and unveiling ceremony, a celebration honoring a brand-new piece of artwork created for the school’s main office.
The school, with the help of the BC Art Department, commissioned Capital Region artist Kiara Johnson to lend her expertise and expressive style to the project. Johnson worked side-by-side with students from the Studio in Art Class, offering direction, guidance, and professional insight as they helped bring the mural to life.
For the students, it was their first experience contributing to a large-scale public artwork, one that will remain a part of the school for years to come. The new mural is a vibrant update to the original mural painted there in 1957.
Colorful, dynamic, and full of movement, the mural blends academics, character, community and wellness into a story about student life and the broader Bethlehem school community. The images celebrate athletics, the arts, exploration, and student imagination. The diversity of activities and individuals reflects the middle school of the 2020s.
At the unveiling, students who had worked with Johnson were able to get an up-close look at the finished mural and share their memories of sketching, mixing paint, and perfecting details together. Students were eager to point out the sections they had personally worked on, and each student had the opportunity to sign their name to the back of their artwork.
Students were excited to see that Johnson placed an “Easter egg” in the design. With a nod to popular culture, especially among middle schoolers, the visiting artist added the numbers “six” and “seven” to a calculator that appears on the mural.
Following the unveiling, Johnson posed for photos with students and families, warmly congratulating each young artist on their contribution.
Thank you to Kiara Johnson for her time, energy and talent in making this project a memorable experience for BCMS students!