Thurston County Food Bank mural combines art, community service

Giant vegetables in vibrant colors parade across a high wall at the Thurston County Food Bank in downtown Olympia.

The array of healthy food was designed and painted by students in NOVA School’s art program, in partnership with Olympia’s Parking and Business Improvement Area and local muralist Jean Nagai.

“We’re having so much fun!” said art teacher Eric Fleming as students reached the finishing stages of the mural this week.

“A lot of people are saying it’s a good way to express healthy food in art,” said student Finn Barnes, 14, who was painting asparagus. “It’s really fun up there. Everyone’s working together, blending color and food.”

The students designed the mural, first with small cutouts then drawing them freehand in the actual size and laying them out to see the scope of the project.

“It was exciting to see how big it was going to be,” Fleming said.

The food bank was approached by NOVA as the school prepared to submit a grant proposal for the project that was designed to reduce graffiti, beautify the city and engage youth in community service, said Robert Coit, the food bank’s director.

“Those ethics resounded with us and we agreed to be the participating building,” he said. “We gave them the canvas.”

Coit said the area of the mural covers also has been tagged by graffiti in the past, so it was appropriate for a community art space.

The project was funded with a $2,500 grant from the PBIA, Nagai said.

The theme of healthy food was chosen to inspire people to make good choices, said student Caroline Doyle, 14, who was painting a coffee cup. “Coffee’s a food, right?

Nagai — “the kids call me ‘John the Guy’ ” — and Fleming will do some cleanup on the mural when the students are finished.

“The kids are doing a great job,” Nagai said. “There are a few drips, but everybody drips. Even I still have drips.”

The project uses mostly recycled latex paint and should be good for at least 10 years, Nagai said, because it’s on a south-facing wall and doesn’t get much direct sunlight.

This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Thurston County Food Bank mural combines art, community service."