CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman High School graduate Eliana Hollis has created a vibrant mural for East Elementary School’s garden. For Hollis, the project was a personal artistic opportunity. A former East Elementary student herself, she said it was a chance to give back to a school that helped shape her childhood.
“I was really thrilled to do it because I love East,” she said. “It was such a great experience for me growing up.”
Her inspiration for the garden mural came from classic children’s literature and, of course, the garden setting. Hollis thoughtfully chose beloved characters with important symbolism to include in her mural: “The Lorax” for its message of conservation, “The Giving Tree” for its symbolism of selflessness, “Peter Rabbit” in honor of the garden’s resident bunny and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to tie in the fruits and vegetables students grow.
“I wanted the mural to be garden related but also familiar and exciting for the kids, and they’ve really loved recognizing the characters. It’s been so fun to see their reactions,” said Hollis.
The process of creating the mural started with a spray-painted background, followed by the creation of the central image of “The Giving Tree.” From there, each element was layered in with acrylics and the process was finished with detailed touches. Though the blazing summer sun served as one of her challenges, she said the joy on students’ faces made it all worthwhile.
The project brought back fond memories of her own time at East, including a gardening camp she attended in sixth grade. She remembers falling in love with “The Lorax” so much that she begged the school librarian to add it to the collection.
Hollis said she was more than grateful for the opportunity to come back to the school that gave her so much and give something back for future generations of Cullman students.
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