VCUSD Students Help Restore Vallejo Public Art

After a year of studying public art with Vallejo Teaching Artists Leah Tumerman and Amy Owen, Jesse Bethel High School,  Cave Language Academy, and Hogan Middle School, students turned their knowledge into action by developing recommendations for Vallejo's public art collection. They proudly presented these ideas to the Vallejo Arts and Culture Commission, demonstrating their passion for their city and the arts.

Learn about the student's journey

On a Saturday morning, these young advisors gathered at the Vallejo Waterfront as the first members of their Youth Volunteer group, ready to bring new life to the "I Heart Vallejo" mural. This mural, which had recently been tagged, was an ideal canvas for implementing their restoration ideas. Under the guidance of the original muralist, Izzy Drumgoole, the students led by example—dedicating four hours to learning the hands-on process of restoring and protecting mural art. Their work served as a community contribution and significantly enhanced our public spaces' beauty and cultural value.

This project was made possible through a community partnership between Vallejo Teaching Artists and the VCUSD Expanded Learning Program, with generous funding from the California Arts Council.