Elementary school students recreate ‘Treasure Island’

Henry Goods has been a muralist for 18 years. He’s given marine life, even fairies, homes on street corners and gas-station walls.

On his latest creation, roughly 576 amateur painters, some not even as tall as his waist, joined him.

Goods teamed up with students from R. L. Stevenson Elementary School to paint their version of “Treasure Island” on the campus. The idea for the mural comes from the school’s namesake, Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the adventure novel, and the campus motto: “Knowledge is our treasure.”

The mural, on the back of the school’s auditorium, faces the playground.

Bringing Goods to the school came by way of Anne Askerneese, a PTA member and mother of three Stevenson students. Askerneese, while driving, saw Goods’ works at area gas stations and inquired about the artist.

The project is funded by a grant from the nonprofit Burbank Arts for All, Stevenson’s PTA and the booster club called Families for Stevenson.

“It took the community to make this happen,” Askerneese said. “[Goods] had the idea and vision of making this big. It’s amazing.”

The piece, 120 feet long and 10 feet high, depicts a tropical island with palm trees and books overflowing from treasure chests. Students from kindergarten through fifth grade painted portions of the previously brown-colored wall, turning it into a wavy sea with rocky terrain and coral reefs.

Dribbles of paint fell into one boy’s hair as he jumped to fill in the bland wall. Goods looked on as students made sure not to paint the dolphins and humpback whales. That task was left for Goods.

“I was hesitant, at first. It’s my first time working with kids,” he said. “But it’s wonderful to see the kids show their appreciation.”

Goods’ piece isn’t the school’s first mural. Interns from Nickelodeon painted a cartoon-esque mural featuring woodland animals in the school’s lunch area. But for students like 10-year-old JuJu Blevins, Goods’ mural is the first time students lent a hand.

“We usually only do paintings in the classroom but now, we have it out on the yard,” she said. “It brightens up the playground.”

Second-grader Carson Smith joined his classmates to paint Monday, getting a glimpse of the painting process done by other students during recess the Friday before.

“It looks realistic,” he said, peering at the unfinished mural. “It’s a very good addition to the school.”

And the mural’s addition has sparked a classroom discussion, urging students to read “Treasure Island.” Principal Debbie Ginnetti said involving the students gives them a chance to see the process behind art and that “this doesn’t just happen.”

As students lined up to return to class, Goods looked over the still-drying paint. He said the mural would normally cost around $8,000. He signed up for the project for less than a third of that cost.

“I’m in a unique position,” Goods said. “In this day and age, no one needs artwork. It’s a luxury. I’m blessed to do it.”

Stevenson will host a rally for the finished mural at 1:15 p.m. on Friday.