Art teachers took to the streets Oct. 7.
They spent their staff day brightening up the Virginia Beach ViBe Creative District by painting four crosswalks at the intersection of Mediterranean Avenue and 17th Street.
Princess Anne Elementary art teacher Meredith Synder mixed paint for her fish-themed design for the crosswalk next to Best Value Hardware.
“Virginia Beach is such a lively art community,” she said. “I look forward to sharing this with my students.”
In 2020, VBCPS art classes and the ViBe District teamed up to enhance the Wareing’s Gym parking lot. Then COVID-19 arrived and teachers ended up painting the murals, instead of students.
The event gave art teachers the chance to work together.
Visual Arts Coordinator Amber Hester called the opportunity “a nice bonding experience.”
Hence, the idea for another art teacher project.
The goal was to liven up the ViBe District’s crosswalks with colorful, cheerful, creative designs easy to see when walking or driving. Plus, teachers will take the knowledge gained from the project to create mural opportunities with students.
The Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs’ Public Art Committee selected four designs submitted by teachers.
Snyder, Kim Jones of Windsor Oaks Elementary, Susan Schutte of Tallwood High School and Jessica Provow from the Virginia Beach Middle gifted art program were chosen to bring their artwork to life on a crosswalk.
Fellow art teachers, family and friends joined them for a day of painting and camaraderie. Passersby gave thumbs ups and one driver yelled, “You guys are awesome!”
Jones said she used “happy colors” in her nature-inspired abstract art on the crosswalk next to Commune restaurant.
“Sometimes art doesn’t have to have a deep meaning; just something uplifting,” she said.
Provow said her artwork featuring “organic shapes” may be viewed as coral, plant life or anything else. “I wanted it to be ambiguous,” she said.
Hearth Wood Fired Cuisine owner Sam Caldow said hello to the Tallwood High crew as they painted bright blue waves along the crosswalk next to his restaurant.
“I love it,” he said. The effort enhances the appeal of the entire ViBe District, Caldow said.
Schutte said her design was inspired by an early morning trip to the beach with her daughter. “We just saw the most beautiful sunrise.”
ViBe District Executive Director Kate Pittman watched the teams at work.
“We are so grateful to the schools,” she said. She also thanked Towne Bank for providing paint, supplies and refreshments for the painting teams.
The collaboration with VBCPS has provided a variety of unique and creative artwork free to the community, Pittman said.
The efforts have enhanced “our museum without walls,” she said.
