Show Way Murals, Ceramics, & Performance Space and Searching for New and Better Worlds Murals at Lockerman-Bundy Elementary School

Midtown Edmondson Avenue Improvement Association (MEAIA) has long advocated for increased opportunities for youth in their community.  At the urging of President John Hailey, after-school art classes were initiated at Lockerman-Bundy Elementary School in the fall of 2005.  Over a period of two years, the school was transformed through art in projects overseen by artist and OSI Community Fellow Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen and Irene Poulsen of NDC.

The theme of the first murals, Searching for New and Better Worlds originated from students reading Commander Toad in Space.  After basic instruction in drawing and painting, students worked on team collages and the artist integrated their ideas into a concept for a series of inter-woven murals.  Beginning in February 2006, “planets” that students had designed and named (music, vacation, etc. planets) were painted among stars, galaxies, and spaceships in the school library. The complexity of the design and extent of the murals on all of the walls and columns (2300 square feet), remarkably ambitious for students of this age, transformed a barren room into a vibrant and inspired learning space. One volunteer, tenth grader David Jackson, initiated a drive at his own school in Arlington Virginia that brought books to the elementary school library valued at over $10,000.  In addition, the Maryland Library Association (sharing the Pratt #2 Library building with NDC) also donated hundreds of books.

Library before (above left) and after (above right)

During the 2006-7 school year a new mural theme was generated from students reading the book “Show Way” by Jaqueline Woodson. The story line of the quilt with secret meanings also illuminated such themes as slavery, pathways to a better future, and the relationships of cultural and family heritage to student’s lives.  Painting this mural was the first step in reclaiming a large under-utilized open space next to the school library.  In addition, students were introduced to ceramics by artist Emily Condon-Douglas. Their final work of colorful layered and textured tiles were incorporated into a mosaic and installed at the school's main entrance. A stage was designed by George Reeder of Pyramid Home Works for the newly transformed room.  Volunteers from Temple Emanuel Synagogue assisted in construction and Ritchie Lumber donated part of the cost of materials. In this new arts performance space, the drama club, school dancers, band, and new theatre group will be able to display their skills to parents and the community.


The art projects have not only showcased the talent of young students, they have also brought parents, interns from Towson University, Goucher College, Morgan State University, The Park School of  Baltimore, Maryland Institute College of Art,  and other volunteers to the school to work with the students.

Lockerman-Bundy, once slated for closure, has instead become a Parent Choice School for Pre-K and K under the leadership of Principal Cynthia Cunningham.  To sustain the increase in enrollment, additional classrooms needed to be installed within the open spaces of the second floor. Inspired by the colors in the Show Way and Searching for New and Better Worlds murals, the city rehabbed the entire 2nd floor and parts of the first floor installing golden yellow walls, orange tiled floors, and purple lockers.

Funders for projects at Lockerman-Bundy: Zanvyl & Isabelle Krieger Fund, Open Society Institute, The Henry and Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Foundation, The Hoffberger Foundation, Quality of Life Giving Circle Fund of the Baltimore Community Foundation, K-Bank, and private donors.