• Selfish Giant (1999) - Tiffany Graham and children
  
• Raven Brings Light (2000) - Tiffany Graham and children
  
• Life Doesn't Frighten Me: Main Panels (2002) - Tiffany Graham and children
  
• HMCRA Pledge (2001) - Tiffany Graham and children

• Glass Murals on 19th Street (Summer 2001) - Ellen Blakeley and children

• 2002 Calendar Art (September 12, 2002) - Children of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy in response to the September 11th attacks on New York

Selfish Giant (1999)

The Selfish Giant Tryptych mural project was created in the spring of 1999 by artist Tiffany Graham and students at HMCRA as a school commissioned project. The imagery painted in acrylics that adorns the three 8'x8' canvas panels was inspired by the Oscar Wilde short story of the same name. The story is an enchanting celebration of the beauty of children at play. Thirty students (K-5)from Harvey Milk were selected to participate in the collaborative process that culminated in this colorful and whimsical tryptych.

Raven Brings Light (2000)

Based on the success of the Selfish Giant project, artist Tiffany Graham sought out funding that would allow all 250 students to collaborate with her in a school-wide mural project. In the fall of 1999 she recieved the first of three years of funding from the California Arts Council to design her own an arts residency program at Harvey Milk. Her first year-long installation project involving the entire student body at HMCRA was the Raven Brings Light mural. This 28'x 8' mural on stained wood is based on the Native American legend that tells how the world was first given the sun. The rich nature-related imagery that emerged from the study of several versions of the legend seems particularly meaningful coming from children living in an urban environment. The installation of the mural onto a central wall on the school-yard in the spring of 2000 was celebrated with an unveiling ceremony attended by the student-artists, artist-in-residence Tiffany Graham, the staff and several district officials including the superintindent. The mural was also used as a back-drop for Governer Gray Davis' awards ceremony and press conference on reading in San Francisco schools.

Life Doesn't Frighten Me: Main Panels (2002) - Main Panels

The "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" mixed-media tryptych was the focus of Tiffany Graham's second year CAC arts residency program at HMCRA. Students drew their own dream related imagery from a careful study of Maya Angelou's poem and the paintings by Jean Michel Basquaiat created to accompany its powerful verses. Student scenes depicting fear overcomed were painted directly onto the canvas panels in acrylic paint or sewn into the panels as photo transfers onto linen. The three 15 foot vertical unstretched panels were designed to serve as a back-drop for Friday morning civil rights assemblies and other school meetings and productions. Begun on September 12th, the "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" theme took on a relevancy unforseen when it was selected by artist Tiffany Graham and Principal Sande Leigh the previous fall.

Life Doesn't Frighten Me: Details (2002)

HMCRA Pledge (2001)

The Pledge to the Earth mural was created as part of the after-school program at Harvey Milk by artist Tiffany Graham and students attending the art club YMAD (Youth Making a Difference). Each Wednesday morning Principal Sande Leigh asks the student body and staff to turn and face the mural while placing their hands and their hearts as she leads them in this special pledge.

Glass Murals on 19th Street (Summer 2001)

In the spring of 2000, Sande Leigh, the principal of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, asked Ellen Blakeley if she would be interested in doing a glass mural for the front wall of the School. The subject was to be "Books and Reading". She had each child do a 4" drawing of their favorite book or a picture of them reading. She put each of the 240 drawings under glass and they all became part of "the big book." In 2001 she and the students did a second mural: "Math and Numbers" Each student worked out a math problem. She is currently working on the third and final panel: "Civil Rights, Human Rights."

Installation date: Summer 2002
Location: Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy on 19th Street Wall
Dimensions: Each mural is 6 ft. high by 12 ft. long

The artist, Ellen Blakeley, makes urban mosaics using the grit of city life. Forget marble, gemstones, gold and silver smalti, and even ceramics. This San Francisco artist's perferred medium is shattered safety glass salvaged from vandalized bus shelters and store windows. These found raw materials give Blakeley's mosaics a street-smart sensibility.

2002 Calendar Art

"On September 11, 2001, our country was horrifically attacked. September 12, 2001, we joined with millions of Americans and the world for a Day of Prayer and Remembrance, as proclaimed by President George W. Bush.

On this day, we stopped our regular activities to remember the loss of life, the injuries and the suffering in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. From the office workers to the airline passengers to the emergency workers . . . our hearts were in sorrow for them, their families and their friends. We drew pictures of how we felt.

As we remembered those who died, those who were injured and those who were missing, we also pledged to honor them personally, by dedicating ourselves to living our lives in peace and with tolerance.

We discussed that as we express our sorrow for the evil acts of a few men, we did not want to blame any of our fellow citizens or friends. There is no room for intolerance, no room for hate in our hearts.

The goal of the terrorist acts was to create unrest. We dedicated ourselves to act with great respect and consideration for others, to make sure that their goal was not achieved. Particularly in light of news accounts, we committed to showing compassion to our Arab and Muslim classmates and neighbors.

We at Harvey milk Civil Rights Academy created this calendar as a memorial to the lives lost, to our country and to world peace. Now we dedicate our lives to making it come true."

text from the HMCRA 2001 Calendar