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As students arrive back to classes at Evergreen Park Community High School they’ll find a new large artwork that combines the beauty of art and science in one space.
Some fellow students used their summer break to work on the new mural, recently putting on the finishing touches.
“I noticed there weren’t any science murals in the school,” said Ava Chandler, a rising senior whose studying interests run toward art and science. She came up with the idea for the mural and suggested it to art teacher Tom Guerra, who liked it, as did a group of her fellow students.
“I’m a huge science person and thought it would be a cool idea to combine science and art,” Chandler said, “to see the origins of everything and how different disciplines of science are able to connect with each other.”
The mural includes symbols from the periodic table of elements, and representations of Sir Isaac Newton, scientific equations and evolution — from fish to four-legged mammals to a man carrying a briefcase. There’s also the DNA helix, part of a dinosaur lurking and an asteroid.
Creating the mural made coming to school over the summer a fun activity, the students said.
“I like chemistry the most because it’s interesting learning how different substances interact with each other and learning how different things are built on each other, how elements react with each other and how it creates physicality in the world,” said Juliana Bosch, who recently graduated from the school and will be attending DePaul University, studying to be a character designer for animated movies and shows. “We wanted to make sure we included every detail and made sure our mural was accurate.”
Bosch said it was also great to work with her peers on the project, which will be displayed on a wall of the school’s science wing.
“To be able to do what we love with each other … we all love doing art,” she said.
The experience reminded Izabella Rodriguez-Acevedo, also a rising senior, about how much she enjoyed painting as a child. She now also likes graphic design and scrapboarding.
“It’s easier, it’s always there,” Rodriguez-Acevedo said about painting. “I kind of like how it’s putting two of my favorite things together — art and science.”
Others who participated were Jax Olson, Natalia Mosely, recent graduate Danny Sommerio and Wilbur Smith. An EPCHS Foundation grant helped fund the project. The frame for the mural was built by Rob Rymek, an industrial technology teacher.
Guerra, the art teacher, loved the idea of the mural as a way for art students to express themselves but also because he is a 2011 EPCHS graduate and as a student he helped paint a mural about the delights of reading and embracing one’s imagination.
“It’s a nice way to find my way back full circle, being part of the thing that propelled me,” said Guerra, who also leads an art club there.
“I was really excited because I wanted to be on the other side with helping and mentoring them. I knew how important it was to me to be part of this.”
Guerra said art students don’t always get the recognition that athletes do in high school, and painting a mural was a way to let them shine.
“I thought it was a really cool way to leave your mark on the school,” he said. “It was a way for us to get recognition.”
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. 
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