"Believe in your art, tell your own story, work together."
Mural Testimonials
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Pilarcitos High School Ellen was an Art/Mural teacher at Pilarcitos High School for 5 years. She came on board primarily to teach our students the mural creation process. Her time was spent working with at-risk students between the age of 16-19. She adapted excellently to our school environment. She adeptly shared her love and expertise with all students who signed up for her classes. I saw her instruction aid our students to believe they were all artists in their own right.
She not only taught students how to draw and paint; she also connected with them and through meaningful conversations teased out the concepts that would eventually appear as the concept of each mural. Her interactions with the students, many who have Individual Education Plans, many who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and many who are English Learners, at our alternative high school were always conducted with kindness and respect.
It was apparent to me as the years went on that Ms. Silva was unique. She was unique because of her passion, drive, and genuine love and caring for her subject and our students. This was evident not only in what she did in the classroom but also in the several field trips she organized for students to visit Precita Eyes Muralists Association and to view and learn about the many murals in San Francisco’s Mission District.
Ellen Silva will be an asset to any institution that chooses to employ her. She will find ways to expose the students to unique opportunities. Our students have benefited from having her in their school.
–Rajan Bechar, Pilarcitos high School Principal, Half Moon Bay
She not only taught students how to draw and paint; she also connected with them and through meaningful conversations teased out the concepts that would eventually appear as the concept of each mural. Her interactions with the students, many who have Individual Education Plans, many who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and many who are English Learners, at our alternative high school were always conducted with kindness and respect.
It was apparent to me as the years went on that Ms. Silva was unique. She was unique because of her passion, drive, and genuine love and caring for her subject and our students. This was evident not only in what she did in the classroom but also in the several field trips she organized for students to visit Precita Eyes Muralists Association and to view and learn about the many murals in San Francisco’s Mission District.
Ellen Silva will be an asset to any institution that chooses to employ her. She will find ways to expose the students to unique opportunities. Our students have benefited from having her in their school.
–Rajan Bechar, Pilarcitos high School Principal, Half Moon Bay
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Cunha Middle School Ellen worked with middle school-aged students from the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastside program, to create a Safe Routes to School mural during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was mindful of everyone's safety and worked closely with us to develop a workable plan so students would have the opportunity to express themselves through their art in the midst of the pandemic. She succeeded in compiling their individual artwork into an eye-catching mural that clearly conveyed our safety message.
–Carlene Foldenauer, Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Cabrillo USD, Half Moon Bay
–Carlene Foldenauer, Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Cabrillo USD, Half Moon Bay
Stanley Middle School “Ellen Silva is the Mother Teresa of Public Art! She worked magic. Not only is she an excellent artist, she is master teacher. Ellen has patience with children, and talent in communicating with them.When students were “acting up”, each time she was able to effectively redirect their energies to the project at hand. It is absolutely fair to say she became a “pied piper” on campus, where children would light up upon seeing her, follow her around, elbow into the crowd to watch her paint with other students and want to design and participate in the painting of the mural. She's a master of detail, a true professional, highly organized. Most importantly, she was generous, and always went an extra mile to complete a beautiful mural.”
–Elizabeth Jameson, Stanley Middle School, Lafayette |
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
Pescadero Elementary School Ellen has been creating murals with my fourth graders for over 5 years. I love watching the excitement on my kids’ faces as they go through the mural process. It is amazing how Ellen is able to transfer the students’ drawings to create a beautiful mural for them to paint. I look forward to working with Ellen in the future. The mural project is a highlight the school year.
–Jennie Dahl, Pescadero Elementary 4th Grade Teacher |
Lawton Elementary School-SF Ellen Silva has coordinated many murals for my students over the years. She is a top notch muralist and a top notch mural arts teacher. There are not enough words to describe what a pro she is. Ellen is organized, responsible, creative, flexible, a team player, and is dedicated to communicating the theme to the audience.
Most of all, she shares the entire arc of the mural process with the children from concept, to composition, to mapping the drawings on a grid, to color breaking, to transferring it on the large scale, and to final painting. I have witnessed the pride and ownership that the children have for their work over the years on our school campus.
Ellen builds community around a mural project and the children (and adults) adore her.
Anyone who hires Ellen to work on a mural is lucky. I mean it!
-mzdebra, 1st Grade Teacher, Lawton Elementary
Most of all, she shares the entire arc of the mural process with the children from concept, to composition, to mapping the drawings on a grid, to color breaking, to transferring it on the large scale, and to final painting. I have witnessed the pride and ownership that the children have for their work over the years on our school campus.
Ellen builds community around a mural project and the children (and adults) adore her.
Anyone who hires Ellen to work on a mural is lucky. I mean it!
-mzdebra, 1st Grade Teacher, Lawton Elementary
Tobias School Ellen Silva is a highly skilled professional who has facilitated numerous student mural projects at our site. I am happy to say that she will now be working with staff for professional development, using all COVID safety precautions necessary. Our site is not only more beautiful, but has positive visual messaging for all the world to see.
–Cathy Macay, Principal M.H. Tobias Elementary School, Daly City |
Fox School was so lucky to have Ellen Silva bring her magic and create the most wonderful mural for our school with the kindergarten through 5th grades. She works so well with the children coordinating their pictures into paintings. She is accepting, encouraging and has the best positive attitude with a huge artistic talent. We called the mural " Beautiful Habitat of the Belmont Hills." It is such a cheerful greeting facing the front of the school. Best art project for the kids ever!
–Leslie Anderson, Art Teacher Fox School, Belmont |
“Ellen facilitated 7 murals with 2-8th graders. She worked with all the 2nd-4th graders in their art classes and enrichment classes to create these murals. A group of 5-8th graders worked with her as one of the Fine Arts Block classes. It was a very ambitious project and she did an amazing job bringing the learners’ ideas to life.”
–Stacy Emory Principal, San Carlos Charter Learning Center, San Carlos |
COMMUNITY MURAL PROJECTS
City of Albany
I hope you feel proud of all that you did and your way of working with the men. It is really a kind of miracle what you did.
–Joanne Wile, City of Albany
I hope you feel proud of all that you did and your way of working with the men. It is really a kind of miracle what you did.
–Joanne Wile, City of Albany
City of Orinda
The mural is up as of this afternoon! We were able to check it out and it looks great. The location is terrific and the mural is now easily the visual highlight of the park. It's wonderful to see this come to fruition!
–Susan Garell, President, Orinda Arts Council
I saw members of the public already drawn to the vivid imagery, studying the mural! Looks fantastic there!
–Susan Mautner, VP of Public Art & Community Relations, Orinda Arts Council
Stopped by the park early today on my out to see the mural. Oh my, what brilliance! Fantastic effort! And the kindergym wall is the perfect location! Just great, all around. Thanks to all involved, especially Ellen.
–Charles Vollmar, Orinda Historical Society History
"Wowie, zowie, Ellen, I couldn't believe it—it looks so great on the wall! I went see the mural before the City Council meeting, and it absolutely looks fantastic. Congratulations, all I'm hearing is good things about it! I had to call you and tell you how wonderful it looks!
–Lucy Hupp Williams, Orinda Historical Society
I did stop by and saw the mural and it is beautiful! Ellen did a beautiful job on this piece and I am sure everyone is so pleased….I loved the new additions! Great job!
–Marty de Laveaga Stewart, Orinda Historical Society
Ellen, I am just thrilled with the new Orinda Historical Mural recently hung on the Kinder Gym wall in the Orinda Community Center Park. It is a beautiful reproduction of the original mural hung at the BART Station, only updated and even better! You are to be commended for your excellent efforts in helping to visually bring Orinda History to all of us in Orinda and beyond!
–Kay Norman, Orinda Historic Landmarks Committee
The mural is up as of this afternoon! We were able to check it out and it looks great. The location is terrific and the mural is now easily the visual highlight of the park. It's wonderful to see this come to fruition!
–Susan Garell, President, Orinda Arts Council
I saw members of the public already drawn to the vivid imagery, studying the mural! Looks fantastic there!
–Susan Mautner, VP of Public Art & Community Relations, Orinda Arts Council
Stopped by the park early today on my out to see the mural. Oh my, what brilliance! Fantastic effort! And the kindergym wall is the perfect location! Just great, all around. Thanks to all involved, especially Ellen.
–Charles Vollmar, Orinda Historical Society History
"Wowie, zowie, Ellen, I couldn't believe it—it looks so great on the wall! I went see the mural before the City Council meeting, and it absolutely looks fantastic. Congratulations, all I'm hearing is good things about it! I had to call you and tell you how wonderful it looks!
–Lucy Hupp Williams, Orinda Historical Society
I did stop by and saw the mural and it is beautiful! Ellen did a beautiful job on this piece and I am sure everyone is so pleased….I loved the new additions! Great job!
–Marty de Laveaga Stewart, Orinda Historical Society
Ellen, I am just thrilled with the new Orinda Historical Mural recently hung on the Kinder Gym wall in the Orinda Community Center Park. It is a beautiful reproduction of the original mural hung at the BART Station, only updated and even better! You are to be commended for your excellent efforts in helping to visually bring Orinda History to all of us in Orinda and beyond!
–Kay Norman, Orinda Historic Landmarks Committee