Summer Teen Camp project leads students in creating vibrant mural art
Story by Misty Bouse. Photos by Pam Consear.
“Eat the Rainbow” mural at Southeast Campus.
This summer, a dozen teens aged 12-15 years old have transformed a part of Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus into a colorful art project.
Over five days in June, these young artists, under the guidance of Community Education Program Instructor Pam Consear, turned a sterile industrial kitchen used for events and classes into a vibrant and welcoming space. The muralists painted colorful characters, positive messages and reminders of where food comes from, along with cultural themes centered around food and community.
The mural features a colorful dragon breathing fire and holding a skillet, the phrase “Eat the Rainbow” in multiple languages, and various other artistic elements reflecting the cultural importance of food.
A fire-breathing dragon greets COMX kitchen guests.
“Our instructors and students have seen the new mural during our Community Ed cooking classes,” said Lindsay Johnson, Community Education Program coordinator. “They are really appreciating the pop of color on what used to be drab white walls and have been impressed by the teen students’ ideas.”
The mural painting camp was one of many offered in PCC Community Ed’s Summer Teen Program, which has been running for 13 years. Despite challenges, including the need to shift to remote camps in 2020, the program continues to thrive. This year, the program offered a wide range of activities, from ceramics and comic drawing to farm camp and 3D printing. The focus on arts and cooking classes remains strong, with these being popular among teens.
Johnson added, “We are always trying to follow teen trends and offer new topics and activities but also bring back popular camps from prior summers.”
The PCC Community Ed teen camp filled quickly, with 12 spots available for the afternoon sessions. Students engaged in brainstorming, planning, and refining the mural design early in the week. By mid-week, they were painting, and by the end of the camp, the kitchen had been transformed.
Pam Consear.
Pam Consear, a veteran art teacher behind Portland-based All Hands Art, led the mural project. She said she likes to make art less competitive and more inclusive, and focus on the power of art to bring growth, joy, connection, and healing. She teaches all ages–and offers classes like ‘Doodle Your Way Out of Stuckness’ for adults.
“I try to transform the way people see themselves as creative beings in a safe place to reconnect with their creativity,” Consear said. “Some came in not knowing what to expect, but they surprised me with their offering of ideas. There was an energy shift, and by Wednesday and Thursday, I could see the students really taking charge of the project.”
Parents were also delighted with the mural, taking photos of their young artists in front of their work. The project not only brightened the kitchen but also highlighted the importance of intercultural exchange, self-expression, and community through art.
For more information on next year’s Summer Teen Program, visit PCC Community Ed Teen Program, or visit the Community Education Program webpage for all fun non-credit courses.