Leaping into Competition
Frogs and a Team of Artists Unite at Mural Day
By: Marissa Schwab
During my sophomore year of high school, I attended my first Mural Day competition at Hastings College. My school, Doniphan-Trumbull, selected four of its students to work together on a large vinyl mural, inspired by a theme that is revealed only on the day of the event. With a limited amount of time, my team and other participants race to complete our murals. The top three groups for awards are selected by Hastings College’s art majors, who serve as judges. Once the competition concludes, we proudly take our murals home to display at our high schools, sharing our work with other students and staff.
When we arrived on campus, the ground was still damp from the rain earlier that morning. Although the weather forecast had predicted clear skies, it unexpectedly started raining just as we were about to begin. Several groups took shelter under their canopies or huddled inside the nearby building to stay dry. My group, Seniors Emma Hoppe, Charlie Chricter, and Alexa Holder, and I were caught in the sudden downpour and quickly hid under the nearest tree. During this time, the organizers called all the teachers into the college building to discuss the situation and whether to wait for the rain to pass or to relocate the competition.
Fortunately, they agreed to move the competition into the Kiewit Gymnasium, located on the Hastings campus. During this transition, the theme was revealed. We were given a list of animals, environments, and inanimate objects to choose from, all of which had to be included in our mural. We had several ideas, but in the end, we decided to create a scene of frogs having a girls' night out at the swimming pool, sipping on colorful drinks.
Leadership is important during a competition. I really appreciated Emma Hoppe stepping up in my group to help guide me, especially considering it was my first time working on a mural. Having people beside you who are passionate about art and willing to help out makes a big difference. It was also great that we could agree on a theme quickly and compromise on what we wanted as a group. Looking at the other murals made me realise how many talented potential art students we have in Nebraska.
The winners of the competition were first place, North Platte, second place, Thayer Central, and third place, Centura High School. The winners were well-deserved, and I feel honored to have been part of this event. It was a truly eye-opening experience because my group and I had to put faith in one another and work together to blend our different art styles into one cohesive mural.
Although the competition started off a bit rocky, I’m already looking forward to next year's competition and for the years to come, and I know I wouldn't have grown as much without this experience. I’m grateful for the opportunity to strive for better and collaborate with others who share my passion for art.