Lapis Lazuli and Breaking BEARriers Club Paint Livermore Mural

Lapis Lazuli, an intrepid team of young artists from across the Tri-Valley area banded together with the Breaking BEARriers Club to paint a vibrant mural for farming nonprofit, Fertile Groundworks located in the heart of Livermore.

The stated mission of Fertile Groundworks is to encourage, empower, and teach individuals and communities to grow healthy, nutritious food, organically and sustainably.

The Lapis Lazuli Art Club was started by a group of teens in the Tri-Valley area in 2019 who want to share their passions in art, contribute to the community, and bring awareness to art in daily life. The group reported that the board of Fertile Groundworks started a conversation with the Breaking BEARriers youth leadership to paint the side of their 8x20 ft storage unit. Later on the Breaking BEARriers invited the Lapis Lazuli Art Club to work on the mural as a joint project. After brainstorming and creating design ideas together, they decided that they wanted a mural showing diversity, unity, and hard work. Both clubs got to work coming up with designs, and after a meeting with the board members they decided on the design you can now see painted on the storage unit.

Mom and group supporter, Cynthia Gong commented "The kids did an amazing job and no one was expecting the mural to turn out so nicely. Even though the weather was not the best to work outdoors, they were dedicated to finishing the project on time. The advice on the paint and sealant from Sawsan Wolski was very helpful, and the mural will stay in good shape for years to come."

In a letter, signed by Brenda Kusler, Executive Director and Dave David, President of the Board of the Board of Directors of Fertile Groundworks, sent to the young volunteers it states:

"I want to personally thank you for your help in making the beautiful garden mural at our site. What a wonderful gift your kids helped create, that brings so much joy and color to our garden. We have needed a mural on this wall for many years, and your kids stepped up and made one for us. We are overjoyed...

Your group, the Lapis Lazuli Art Club and the Breaking BEARriers Club, have given us a gift that will last for many years. It truly reflects the diversity of the volunteers who do all the work to produce over 22,000 pounds of vegetables that we grow and donate every year."

When asked about the most valuable takeaway from the mural painting experience, team member Bella Bian said "Painting the mural didn't turn out to be as difficult as I thought it was. It taught me that daunting challenges aren't always as difficult as they seem."

The team reached also out to Sawsan Wolski, Dublin Arts Collective President and invited her along to view the completed mural. The two organizations had connected in early 2020 when Lapis Lazuli wanted to be a part of a larger arts community. The Lapis Lazuli artists had also hand painted unique designs on canvas bags which they handed over. The bags will be used to support fundraising for the DAC Mentorship Program in the Arts which is scheduled to invite applications in late 2021.

"The mural is stunning and I was filled with excitement when the team invited me to view it, " commented Sawsan Wolski, "these young artists inspire me with their energy and creativity and willingness to try new things. Their hand paintings on the bags exceeded my expectations and I am excited about involving them in our programs in the near future."

The Fertile Groundworks Board also commented "It is very encouraging to see young people like these kids learning the value of giving back to the local community. We have a lot to be grateful for here in Northern California and it is important that we do what we can to help those in need. Our garden helps by not only donating food, but also teaching people how to grow their own food in a sustainable, organic way."

The mural unveiling ceremony was held at the end of November and the artists were given permission to sign the mural.

"Planning, coordinating, and working on a project as big as this with so many people is a difficult but rewarding experience, and I'm now far more experienced and confident to take on new projects and challenges," said team member Chloe Rong.