Students and staff at four Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) schools have collaborated with renowned local artists to design and paint murals that help students express themselves through art. The community at Nathaniel S. Colley, Sr. Junior/Senior High School chose to honor civil rights leaders with the help of SCOE’s resident teaching artist Henry Fisk to collaborate in the creation of a collage featuring several diverse civil rights leaders.
The Colley mural is aptly named “It Begins with Justice.” The vibrant piece of art honors important public figures who paved the way for positive change in society, and the impact of their activism on civil rights and social justice still rings loudly to this day. The mural features five historically influential figures that students will see every day at school: Nathaniel S. Colley, Angela Davis, Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, Harvey Milk, and Madonna Thunder Hawk.
Prominently displayed on the mural is a quote by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulo: “They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.” The quote resonated with the students, who felt the words represented their own journeys, symbolizing growth from adversity. At the foot of the mural, the California Poppy and soil depict this message, and the flower is a metaphor representing each student. The portraits of the five figures in a circular arrangement—interwoven with the Pride, United Farm Workers, and American flags—represent unity and community, serving as inspirations and role models for everyone on campus. Monarch butterflies throughout the design signify transition and growth.
Henry Fisk, a.k.a Fisko, led Colley’s collaborative mural project. He earned his bachelor’s degree in studio art from UC Davis, along with a minor in art history. Through his work, he creates opportunities to understand the world from a visual perspective. Fisko is currently one of SCOE’s resident teaching artists and is part of the Any Given Child and Sacramento Healthy Hearts and Minds programs. The artist also joined forces with SCOE students and resident artist Milton Bowens last year to create a student-inspired mural for the Colley campus.
More Information
For more information about the mural project or to schedule a time to view that artwork, email SCOE’s Arts Integration Coordinator, Jasmin Martinez.