Schools

'Smile' Artist Visits Ridge Meadows School in Ellisville

Students at Ridge Meadows Elementary School had the unique opportunity to work with professional artist Bren Bataclan on a smile mural project this month.

Ridge Meadows Elementary School in Ellisville enjoyed some extra doses of smiles this month as nationally-known artist Bren Batalan helped students there make a "smile" mural.

Bataclans projects have given him national exposure, including a feature on CBS Evening News, and allowed him to connect with young arists to encourage them to share their work.

To make that happen, Batalan often creates upbeat cartoon-styled paintings in public spaces throughout the world for people to enjoy

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At Ridge Meadows, Batalan worked with students in first through fifth grade to help them cultivate their own ideas for what the mural should look like. In addition to painting alongside students, Batalan also showcased some of his own work at a Marquette High School gallery.

Art teacher Linda Sachs said she invited Bataclan to visit shortly after her students first discovered his work.

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"The students came across his project when they were researching artists," Sachs said.

"Not only were they excited about his style of paintings, but they loved the fact that he shares his smile artwork with people across the world in an effort to make others smile more," Sachs said. "HisΒ visit was great learning experience for students and the excitement of our entire school was overwhelming."

In addition to visiting Ridge Meadows, which took place from Feb. 6 to Feb. 8, Sachs also took Bataclan to the St. Louis Arch and City Museum so he could leave paintings for people to take. As he works to spread his smiles around the world, each painting includes a note that reads, "Everything will be all right."


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