Youth : News for the 18-and-under crowd : Teen Muralists Due Recognition in April

Eight teens who spent the holidays painting a mural with Emigdio Vasquez, a master of the medium, will be recognized for their work in April, when the project will be dedicated.

The mural, in a primitive style, depicts children playing, doing homework and flying kites. Its theme is unity, said Israel Valdez, 12, one of the teen artists.

“This picture symbolizes that people can get along, and that’s important,” the seventh-grade Nicolas Junior High School student said.

The painting, yet to be titled, was done on a wall at the Boys and Girls Club of Fullerton. The project was sponsored by a city anti-gang program and the Fullerton Museum Center’s Interact-Connect program.

As part of that program, a dozen youngsters attend a free art class at the Boys and Girls Club taught by Aimee Kraus, the Fullerton Museum’s education coordinator. Many of Kraus’ students participated in the mural project.

Shannon Lynn, 14, said she enjoyed working on the mural.

“It looks nice up on the wall,” she said. “It shows kids having a nice time, and I think the kids who come here to the club will look at it and learn to play together with their friends and other kids and to respect each other.”