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Lesson 4: Design, Refine, and Dream Big

In this lesson, it’s time for students to start really thinking about their design and how the art responds to community interests and reflects community members. Often community stakeholders ask artists to address and commemorate a particular theme, person, or event that is to be expressed in the artwork. How will artists bring together their personal voice along with the voices of the community?  

 

It’s time for kids to really get imaginative. How will their public art interact with the surroundings? How will those who come into contact be drawn in to explore the art, maybe even touch it, perhaps notice other things around it?  


Start by learning about Calder’s Three Discs One Lacking and then engage students in collaborative discussions and design trials. Explore the public design process. Be sure the students are collaborative as they develop their designs.

Lesson Activity 

  1. Study Alexander Calder’s Three Discs, One Lacking. How can shapes and colors create excitement? How does the positioning of the artwork pay homage to Calder’s grandfather and father? (Found in the video.)

  2. In Omaha, both MidSummer Murals and Omaha By Design have worked with community members and artists to bring vibrancy to community spaces. Explore the South Omaha Mural Project or Arts and Infrastructure. Be sure to talk about how the community and artist work together to create public art. 

  3. Have students discuss, “How will their public art interact with the surroundings?” “How will those who come into contact be drawn in to explore the art, maybe even touch it, perhaps notice other things around it?” “What do you want the viewer to be curious about?”

  4. Next, invite the students to take some time to gather ideas about what to create in their public art design. 

    1. Try the Murals on the Wall approach from Arts Midwest.

      1. Gather people and ask them to share stories of the space. 

      2. Invite sketches. 

      3. Take these ideas and synthesize them. 

    2. Build digital mockups, 3D models, or poster-size renderings.

    3. Or try the “Community of Murals Approach.” Students break into teams, sketch, share, iterate, and vote on the best elements to combine.

  5. Class critique: Place all designs around the room, and have students do a “gallery walk.” Use sticky notes to leave one word or phrase reactions (e.g., “Hopeful!” “Reminds me of Nebraska skies”).

  6. Guide a reflection, “Which artistic choices—color, size, shape—would make your idea stand out in public?” “Which pieces made you linger?” “Which works made you curious or respond in various ways?” 

  7. Using the class critique may help you, as the teacher, select the works you’d like to submit to the “My Nebraska, Our America” challenge. Remember, teachers can only submit five (5) works. 

Lesson Resource Links 

Public Art Design Process & Considerations

When designing public art, there’s much to consider. Introduce the students to this process so that when they are creating their designs, they consider all aspects of a potential project.

  1. Define your goals. 

    1. Determine the project's scope, including whether it's a short-term effort for a single wall or a long-term initiative to produce multiple murals.

    2. Establish what the community hopes to achieve through public art, such as revitalizing an area, fostering pride, or marking a historic event.

  2. Create a core team.

    1. Have students consider which stakeholders they may involve if they were to carry out their design. Would it be community organizers, local artists, business owners, and city officials? 

  3. Identify potential locations. 

    1. Where would the art be placed? Is it a school building, business, or public spaces? Do they know property owners in order to request permission?

    2. If students carry out their design, be sure to obtain legal approval. Research and secure any necessary permits from your city or county government, checking for codes or ordinances related to public art, signage, and building facades. Consider a formal agreement with the property owner that outlines expectations for the mural's installation, maintenance, and longevity

  4. Engage the Community

    1. Develop the mural themes. 

    2. You could ask residents to sketch and submit ideas and then synthesize those. 

    3. Or, instead of asking residents to sketch, hold interactive workshops where community members can share stories, poems, and ideas that represent the area. Use these conversations as creative building blocks for the mural artwork designs.

  5. Create mural designs.

    1. Based on the community's input, the lead artist or team develops conceptual designs. 

    2. If students are wanting to carry out their design and create real public art, how will it be decided? 

      1. Some programs hold community votes to select a design from several concepts, ensuring the final image is widely supported.

  6. Get ready to work.

    1. Find funding. Create a project budget that accounts for wall or site preparation, permits, equipment, materials, and artist fees. Sources of funding include local arts councils, community beautification grants, and crowdfunding sites. 

    2. Consider safety concerns and how they will be addressed. For instance, if creating a large mural, will scaffolding be needed? Who will have access to scaffolding? If the work is sculptural, an engineering team may need to review plans to ensure safety and durability. 

    3. Consider who will be creating the artwork. Will it be created solely by an artist or will volunteers and students be involved? 

    4. Also consider where the artwork will be created. Will it be created off-site and installed somewhere, or will it be created on-site (most murals are created directly on-site).  

    5. Recruit volunteers. Build a list of potential volunteers from local groups and schools. Engaging students can also introduce them to public art projects.

  7. Go to work! (These directions are for murals.) 

    1. Depending on the kind of artwork, schedule community artmaking days to get volunteers involved.

    2. If the project is a mural created by students and community members, there are lots of books and manuals that can help guide the process.

    3. If a professional artist is creating the artwork, the artist may be able to meet with community members to explain the process and keep everyone updated. Sometimes artists also come up with innovative ways that allow students or volunteers to have a hand in the artmaking. This can be a great way to build community ownership in public artwork.

    4. Prepare the wall or surface. Once the final design is approved, prepare the painting surface by cleaning it thoroughly and priming it as needed. Fill any large cracks to ensure a smooth finish.

    5. Transfer the design. Transfer the design onto the wall using a measured grid or a projector to ensure proper proportions. Use a medium like a pencil or light chalk that the paint can easily cover.

    6. Host painting days. Schedule community paint days, often on weekends, to get volunteers involved. A paint-by-numbers approach can make the process easy for inexperienced painters. Be flexible to get the most out of your volunteers, and monitor the pace to maintain momentum.

    7. Protect the mural. Once the mural is complete, apply a clear, protective varnish to seal and protect it from weather and dirt. 

  8. Celebrate and Reflect 

    1. How will you announce the completion? Will you host a dedication? Organize a celebratory event to unveil the completed mural. Invite the artists, volunteers, city officials, and local media to build excitement and show appreciation for everyone's contributions.

    2. Document and promote. Take and share photos and videos of the completed work. Use local media and social platforms to celebrate the accomplishment and showcase the mural's impact.

    3. Evaluate the process. Gather feedback from participants to understand the project's success and identify ways to improve for future murals.

    4. Look ahead. Use your experience and the community's positive feedback to inspire new public art projects and expand the "community of murals". 

© 2025 by Nebraska Public Art Challenge 250. All rights reserved.

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