SCAF: Special Children's Art Foundation

Charles L. Lowman Special Education Center Project

"Celebration of Success" was created for the Charles L. Lowman Special Education Center in North Hollywood, California. This project adorns the wall adjacent to the California Children's Services Therapy Unit within the main corridor of the school's administration building. The project was developed by the school's principal, Paula Melideo and CCS unit manager Harriet Fain-Tvedt. After a couple of meetings, the theme of "Success" was adopted. Paula and Harriet wanted the imagery to show students with special needs involved in activities depicting their successes. The mural stretches approximately 7' high by 44' in length. Students from Lowman as well as from neighboring Laurence School participated in the painting sessions.

		Paula informed us that school was going to hold their own "Special Olympics" back in July 2009. This was the perfect place to begin collecting imagery for the mural. We measured out the wall and created a frame line in Photoshop and began to place images within the frameline to begin the composition. Once the mural began to take shape, artist Bob Hernandez created a rough sketch,which was submited for feedback. Upon approval, Bob took the sketch to the next step, tightening up the lines and adding back-ground imagery to personalize the mural specificfically to Lowman and created the color style guide.

While Bob was painting on the color style guide, the line drawing was delivered to GP Color to be printed on vinyl wall paper we began scheduling painting sessions with Lowman. With-in weeks, we were ready to begin. Below are images Celebrating Success!

The painting sessions began on November 2nd and contined through to the 12th. We had 109 students participate in the creation of the mural, about half of all students attending Lowman! SCAF would like to thank Ginger Hansen, Silvina Day, Katherine Armenta and Matthew Kolodziejczyk for volunteering multiple days. These volunteers assisted the students, teachers and teachers aides. Interns and therapists from California Children's Services also participated in the painting sessions.

On November 12, 20 students from Laurence Elementary School participated by assisting the students from Lowman. Depending on the severity of the disability, two to three Laurence students assisted each Lowman student. We had two very special guests participate with the Lowman students. Randell Kirsch from the Beach Boys and Bob Cowsill from the Cowsills came to play for the Lowman students. And before leaving the campus, Randall and Bob also took part in painting the mural along with the Lowman Students.

We will continue to update this page with photos of the mural installation, touch up and finally the dedication ceremony. Check back to view those photos.

For more information call us at 818-642-6374
or email us at:
specialchildrensart@yahoo.com