With a 350-square-foot blank hallway wall as their canvas, student-artists at Hampton Bays High School used their talents to design and paint a colorful and inspiring work of art that captures the spirit of their school. 

The mural came to fruition as part of a unity mural project created by local artist Joyce Raimondo, who works with students across Long Island to foster positive expression through art.   

“With so much tension in our country today, I wanted to create a project that would give young people a creative forum for teamwork and peaceful collaboration,” said Raimondo. “The schools’ mottos come to life with murals by students, for students.”

The Hampton Bays mural project kicked off in mid-February with a brainstorming session, during which Art Club members came up with ideas to best illustrate their school’s mottos, which include “Lifelong Learning” and “Character.”  Raimondo then worked with the students to lay out the mural and begin the painting process. Art Club adviser and teacher Keegan Bishop helped the students complete the giant work of art that features an image of the Ponquogue Bridge and the ocean.