Alta Vista Elementary Students Create Mural For Chalk Festival

Alta Vista Elementary School fourth-grade students teamed up with the Multicultural Health Institute, to create a Healthy Harvests Around the World mural for display at the Sarasota Chalk Festival.

Multicultural Health Institute is a Sarasota-based non-profit organization.

The mural, created using acrylic paint, will be displayed for the remainder of the festival, which runs through Tuesday. After the event the mural will travel to the North Sarasota Library as part of a student art exhibition.

Dr. Lisa Merritt instructed the students in good health and nutrition. Alta Vista art teacher Cassandra Whitehead and local artists Todd Berrien and Eleanor Merritt worked with the students to develop a large mural integrating cultural diversity with the visual arts, fitness and nutrition.

“Through this arts integration project, students gained a sensitivity regarding cultural awareness while learning about the importance of good nutrition and physical fitness,” said Principal Barbara Shirley. “We are thankful for partnerships with leaders and organizations that care so much about the education of the children in our community.”

At the North Sarasota Library, students researched nutrition and countries around the world at before beginning their artwork and completing the project at school.