New Murals Greet Students at Kensington Middle School

• Pictured: students admire their handiwork at PS 62. Photos by John V. Santore

KENSINGTON, BROOKLYN — Gisselle Marin was eager for her unicorn to be acknowledged.

"The unicorn was my idea," the eight grader said brightly, surveying the mural she had painted with classmates at I.S. 62 in Kensington. "I'm so proud."

A previously dull green door had been transformed into a striking canvass dominated by shining figures — including a gold unicorn.

"Our future is golden," Gisselle said, explaining the symbolism behind the design.

"We have a lot ahead of is," said fellow artist Lizabeth Gutierrez.

"I feel like when kids walk into school, it gives them something to think about," said Zannatul Ala, another participant. "It also makes the community more colorful."

From left to right: artists Lizabeth Gutierrez, Gisselle Marin, and Zannatul Ala

The door is just one of five painted this year by students at the school, working in conjunction with painter Ashton Agbomenou.

The works were officially dedicated during a morning ceremony on Wednesday.

Agbomenou is a member of Groundswell, a Brooklyn-based non-profit that leads public art projects around the city, often in conjunction with students.

The three month effort was funded by 40th ward councilman Mathieu Eugene, whose district includes Kensington and Ditmas Park.

Eugene, who attended Monday's ceremony, said the arts are a critical part of education, and used the opportunity to call for greater funding for summer youth jobs.

Along with assistant artist Zhenwei Xie, Agbomenou worked with about 11 eighth grade art students at I.S. 62 to brainstorm ideas for the school's new murals.

He said an interest in the school's STEAM curriculum (that stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math) emerged from the conversations, which informed some of the details of his design.

The students themselves provided inspiration, too. Besides working renditions of the kids into the panels, one prominently features a character that has spilled milk over a cafeteria table.

That spiller, Agbomenou said, is project participant Anthony Flores.

"Anthony is real charismatic and likes to cause trouble," the artist explained.

Ashton Agbomenou

Agbomenou thinks that doors provide an appropriate symbolic site for paintings, describing them as an entry and exit point "that can go through time. I'm just excited that it all came together."

"The doors open up to our education, and what we're going to learn today," Gisselle added.

Both she and Lizabeth said they're interested in becoming professional animators.

"If I were to do that, it would make me happy," Lizabeth said. "You put a smile on little kids' faces."

The participating I.S. 62 students pose with Mathieu Eugene, in the back row.

"It feels worth it," the charismatic Anthony Flores said as the students gathered around one of their pieces. "It was a lot of weeks. We put our ideas into one (design). It came together real good."