Lompoc Unified School District (LUSD), in collaboration with the United Boys and Girls Club (UBGC) of Santa Barbara County – Lompoc Unit, will unveil a series of community murals created by local student artists, 12:30 p.m. April 12 at the UBGC gym, 1025 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.
This creative project began in spring 2024 as part of a shared vision between UBGC and LUSD to celebrate student artists and inspire the community through visual art.
UBGC sought to create an inspiring environment that showcases student talent while aligning with the core themes of community building and artistic expression. Together, the two groups launched a design challenge open to all secondary students in LUSD.
Participants were asked to create murals reflecting UBGC Themes: Community, Arts, Careers, Leadership, Education, and Sports and Recreation.
After the selection process, a panel of UBGC staff members chose two finalists to bring the murals to life: Monique DeLeon, senior at Cabrillo High School; and Alin Ramirez Aldaz, a former Lompoc High School student currently studying at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
“My goal for this mural design is to communicate the importance of unity and respect in a community made up of people of different backgrounds, beliefs, appearances, and more standing together in peace and love,” said Aldaz, who co-created the community mural along with a team of student artists from Lompoc High School.
“I believe this is a beautiful concept because everyone deserves to be welcomed and treated with kindness, these characteristics are what build strong communities,” Aldaz said. “The mural process was also a wonderful experience because many art students worked together to paint it. Our lovely art teacher Mrs. Alvarez also helped us throughout the process, and I would like to thank everyone who helped make this project and ceremony possible.
“I’ve learned that projects like these turn out amazing when we work together by all sharing our gifts and talents for good.”
“I learned a lot from this project. Mural work was new for me, so I learned how to use new materials,” said DeLeon, creator of the Arts, Careers, Leadership, Education, and Sports and Recreation Murals. “It was a time-consuming project, so I also learned that I shouldn’t take all of the responsibility, I should create a team to share the responsibility.
“I hope that this project creates a memory for future students. I want them to know that their artwork can be put up in public and inspire them to create art that can become a part of their community.”
The mural project is a part of a larger Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program offered by Lompoc Unified School District thanks to the commitment of the district and state, including recent Proposition 28 state funding dedicated for VAPA.
LUSD offers a comprehensive TK-12 VAPA program that includes classroom instruction in drama, music, dance, media arts, and visual arts; after-school classes, clubs, community events, and much more.
“This project has allowed our student artists to share not only their talents, but also their perspectives and ideas, with our local community, promoting the artistic tradition of mural making in the city of Lompoc,” said Jackalynn Snow, LUSD’s VAPA specialist. “Art is visual communication, and these murals beautifully represent the themes and values that inspired them.
“Creating these murals required an immense amount of time and skill, and we are so proud of these young artists who have painted professional-level works on a large scale for this project.”
UBGC of Santa Barbara County’s CEO Michael Baker remarks, “In the City of Arts and Flowers, it makes perfect sense that the United Boys & Girls Clubs would partner with the Lompoc Unified School District to have students design our brand-new murals for our gymnasium.”
Community members can view the murals noon-6 p.m. daily at the United Boys and Girls Club.