Spanish III Honors Students Explore Hartford’s Murals

KO Spanish III Honors students traded the classroom for the streets of Hartford, where language, culture, and community come alive in color. Led by Spanish teacher Kathleen McLean and joined by fellow faculty member Juan Garcia and Sheri Shea, the students set out on a mural tour that blended art, storytelling, and civic engagement. What began as a curriculum connection quickly evolved into something broader: an immersive look at how public art shapes and reflects a community. Whether under an overpass or on a skate park ramp, these designs tell the story of a vibrant city that is often overlooked while driving along the interstate.

The experience builds on a unit centered around the Mexican-American neighborhood of Pilsen in Chicago, where murals serve as both cultural expression and social commentary. But in Hartford, students encountered a different, equally compelling lens.“This year, it became less about just Spanish language and more about public art, urban landscape, and community involvement,” McLean explained.

Thanks to the warmer weather, the students explored a wide range of murals, each telling its own story. The tour, organized in partnership with the nonprofit RiseUp Group, introduced students to the scale and impact of Hartford’s public art scene. Founded in 2012 by Matt Conway, the organization alone has created more than 300 murals across Connecticut, many rooted in themes of empowerment and community pride. According to their website, “RiseUp isn’t a traditional non-profit – it’s a creative impact network that connects education, public art, workforce development, and accessibility into one cohesive system of community transformation.” Students at KO are familiar with the RiseUp Group, as several years ago, many participated in one such project in West Hartford near Blue Back Square.

Students learned how the mural movement grew from youth engagement, giving young people a voice and a stake in their city. They also saw how art connects to larger civic action. McLean said that creating a mural is one way to serve as an on-ramp to engagement, which, hopefully, then leads to community organizing, voting, and greater participation.

The day culminated with a visit to the artists’ studio, where creativity met mission-driven work. There, students encountered projects like “Able Tables,” thoughtfully designed to be inclusive, allowing individuals using wheelchairs to sit comfortably within a shared space. The project, inspired by the creator’s personal experience with his own disabled child, struck a chord with many students, reinforcing the idea that design and art can directly improve lives. One student, Helen Wang ’26, said, “I like the idea of an able table. It is a really considerate design that shows the inclusive and kind side of the people.” 

Students followed the artists on social media, explored their work beyond the tour, and even began considering future projects and collaborations. One student-artist, Maliyah Douglas ’27, is already planning to base her final portfolio project on an artist she met that day. She was captivated by the artwork that made her “stop and think.” She and fellow student Ginger Graham ’28 showed the artist their portfolios. Many times, he incorporates the artwork of other artists into his own designs, and he asked the KO students to contribute to a piece he is creating this summer. 

“They were really into it,” McLean said. “They went on the artist’s Instagram afterward, watched videos—it stayed with them.” Following the tour, McLean asked the students to reflect on what they saw. “I was able to see parts of Hartford that I had never seen before,” said Siri Tokala ’28. “It was really inspiring how Matthew saw an issue within his community and decided to take action. I find it really cool how Corey Pane painted so many pieces of his family while also tying in the part of the community and youth.”