Savannah Standard

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has brought its public art initiative, "Paint Our Parks," back to the Savannah Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS). This time, a vibrant mural has been added to the playground at Sarah Mills Hodge Elementary School on Clinch Street in Savannah.

"Paint Our Parks" is an initiative created by SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace. It aims to serve the communities of Savannah and Atlanta through the creative talents of SCAD students and alumni. Since its inception in fall 2021, five recreational spaces have been painted in Atlanta. The mural at Hodge Elementary marks the second such project in Savannah, following a previous installation at Coastal Middle School in Fall 2022.

The project was developed in collaboration with SCCPSS. SCAD provided substantial funding for both the restoration of the playground's court surface and the creation of a large-scale mural.

Joe Dreher, a SCAD alumnus with a B.A. in architecture from 1993, designed the mural at Hodge Elementary. Dreher is based in Atlanta and is recognized for his work as an artist, architect, photographer, and poet. He recently completed two large murals in Midtown Atlanta. "As a muralist, I often paint walls," Dreher explained. "But as murals become more accepted and desired parts of our surroundings, opportunities for new locations have increased."

Dreher's design process involved collaboration with Hodge students through what he calls “portrait partners.” He had students draw each other while he drew alongside them. "I used the results to generate a composition full of color and shape that reads like an abstraction from a distance," Dreher said.

Dreher expressed hope that this process would demonstrate to students and community members how intention and effort can bring about positive change: "The mural is something they helped create and will take pride in long after I am gone."

More than 100 SCAD SERVE volunteers contributed over 360 hours starting April 17 to complete this project using more than 150 gallons of special acrylic paint.

"It's amazing to have this artwork by a SCAD artist displayed in front of our school because it depicts who we are as a school community," stated Yvette Wells, principal of Hodge Elementary School.

"Paint Our Parks" continues as part of SCAD's community-focused efforts aimed at uplifting local neighborhoods through art.