Jane's Pocket Change: Seeds and Transitions
In 2007, as the culmination of her Capstone Project, alumna Carra Beth Cheslin ‘07 created a lovely mural that she installed outside the head’s office in the entrance hallway of the Kluchman Building entitled, “Semillas”—Spanish for seeds. The key located next to the mural explained that the hand, in lavender, represented unique transformation; the shoots of color (blue, green, turquoise, pink, yellow, orange) represented stability, renewal, growth, celebration, courage and creativity; the white ribbon was hope and reflection; and the background, which was a sunset, was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, “Sower with Setting Sun.”
In 2007, as the culmination of her Capstone Project, alumna Carra Beth Cheslin ‘07 created a lovely mural that she installed outside the head’s office in the entrance hallway of the Kluchman Building entitled, “Semillas”—Spanish for seeds. The key located next to the mural explained that the hand, in lavender, represented unique transformation; the shoots of color (blue, green, turquoise, pink, yellow, orange) represented stability, renewal, growth, celebration, courage and creativity; the white ribbon was hope and reflection; and the background, which was a sunset, was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, “Sower with Setting Sun.”
For the last 10 years, this most pleasing, rather serene mural has greeted me each morning and has cheered-up the end of the Kluchman corridor across from the library. Last spring, we starting noticing what rough shape the work was in and this spring, after some critical examination and investigative touching and tapping, it became clear that the time had come to take the mural down. Our staff photographer took some pictures; I alerted Carra. This past weekend, as part of an indoor spring clean-up, the mural was painted over.
These are the facts.
Here are my reflections, as well as a few from Carra:
First, really? 10 years?! Yes, it’s been a decade since Carra’s graduation. Carra is now the director of engagement for a non-profit that provides assistance to those interested in converting to solar power use. When we reconnected last week, Carra reminded me what a big deal it was that I let her create a piece on such a large section of wall in the Kluchman Building, and she stated that it was an “awesome journey to learn how to effectively paint a mural as [her] capstone.” She was equally impressed it ended up staying there for so long.
And there’s more: the word transition. Carra’s intent was to create a piece that was all about transition—most pressing in her mind, I suspect, at the time she created it, was her pending transition away from CSW to college, a transition the 86 members of the Class of 2017 are preparing to make in a few weeks. Ultimately, this work of an about-to-graduate-from-high-school senior was symbolic of the transformation that all of our students undergo during their time here.
In the end, Carra proved to be much more than an artist; she was also a sower—she planted many seeds during those weeks it took her to create her Capstone mural which grew steadily during the 10 years her work graced that wall. I will miss seeing her mural every day, but I will hold it fondly. I am confident that the “shoots” of stability, renewal, growth, celebration, courage and creativity it planted in everyone who passed by it on their way to something new will continue to bloom.
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Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.
For the last 10 years, this most pleasing, rather serene mural has greeted me each morning and has cheered-up the end of the Kluchman corridor across from the library. Last spring, we starting noticing what rough shape the work was in and this spring, after some critical examination and investigative touching and tapping, it became clear that the time had come to take the mural down. Our staff photographer took some pictures; I alerted Carra. This past weekend, as part of an indoor spring clean-up, the mural was painted over.
These are the facts.
Here are my reflections, as well as a few from Carra:
First, really? 10 years?! Yes, it’s been a decade since Carra’s graduation. Carra is now the director of engagement for a non-profit that provides assistance to those interested in converting to solar power use. When we reconnected last week, Carra reminded me what a big deal it was that I let her create a piece on such a large section of wall in the Kluchman Building, and she stated that it was an “awesome journey to learn how to effectively paint a mural as [her] capstone.” She was equally impressed it ended up staying there for so long.
And there’s more: the word transition. Carra’s intent was to create a piece that was all about transition—most pressing in her mind, I suspect, at the time she created it, was her pending transition away from CSW to college, a transition the 86 members of the Class of 2017 are preparing to make in a few weeks. Ultimately, this work of an about-to-graduate-from-high-school senior was symbolic of the transformation that all of our students undergo during their time here.
In the end, Carra proved to be much more than an artist; she was also a sower—she planted many seeds during those weeks it took her to create her Capstone mural which grew steadily during the 10 years her work graced that wall. I will miss seeing her mural every day, but I will hold it fondly. I am confident that the “shoots” of stability, renewal, growth, celebration, courage and creativity it planted in everyone who passed by it on their way to something new will continue to bloom.
__________________________________________________
Pocket Change is a web diary written by Jane Moulding, head of school.
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.