Godinez Art Students Commemorate Santa Ana Turning 150 Years Old

Katrina+Mena%2C+a+sophomore+at+Godinez+Fundamental+High+School%2C+working+on+her+perspective+drawings+for+the+mural+on+Tuesday%2C+Sept.+25%2C+2018.+

Liana Sanchez

Katrina Mena, a sophomore at Godinez Fundamental High School, working on her perspective drawings for the mural on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018.

Liana Sanchez and Ethan Becerra

“You never know when you are going to get another chance like this,” said sophomore Katrina Mena.  

Santa Ana turns 150 years old this year and the Heritage Museum giving Godinez students the chance to paint a mural in its honor. Experienced muralists, will be teaching students, skills about art and learning about their town’s rich history.

In addition to painting a mural commemorating Santa Ana, the Heritage Museum is teaching students teamwork and how to apply their love for art.

Over the next couple of months, Godinez art students will learn how to draw buildings using their knowledge of perspective. They will be using many different tools and materials; charcoal, acrylic paint, measuring tapes, and a scaffold.

The Heritage Museum of Orange County wants this mural to help reflect some of the most influential, remarkable people, and landmarks that have impacted the “golden city.”

The lead coordinator, Kevin Cabrera, wants this mural to help students better understand the different types of cultures and people who live in their city.  

“This mural has a lot of deep meaning and I’m hoping that when things start to slow down the students get a chance to do research on what they’re painting and understand fully all the stories and narratives of these people and places that make up their community,”  mentioned Cabrera.

Many of the students are excited about the end result and are glad they have joined this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This program will help them express their artistic creativity and develop certain skills they haven’t learned before; such as painting on a big scale. Marielena Martinez, Godinez art student said, “I chose to be involved with the mural because art has always been something that I’ve been really interested in.”

The professional muralist, Abram Moya Jr., mentioned, “the biggest challenges along the way are painting on a bigger surface and trying to get the realism on the textured wall.”

Moya’s passion for art over the last 40 years has contributed in many murals and his personal artwork. He hopes to create a comfortable environment for the students and that they have fun doing what they love.

The mural will be revealed early December of 2018, at The Heritage Museum of Orange County.