School Murals: 1999-2009
“Experience the Magic of Learning” ©1999 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with teachers
Size: 9’x 12’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: 785 Price St, Daly City
Ellen was hired by the Precita Eyes Mural Center in San Francisco to direct this (her premiere) mural project. Working together with eight teachers from JFK, she met 3 times to discuss concepts, design, and color. She then proceeded to the task of preparing the wall, and finally, painting and varnishing. The mural is a gift from the teachers to the students.
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with teachers
Size: 9’x 12’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: 785 Price St, Daly City
Ellen was hired by the Precita Eyes Mural Center in San Francisco to direct this (her premiere) mural project. Working together with eight teachers from JFK, she met 3 times to discuss concepts, design, and color. She then proceeded to the task of preparing the wall, and finally, painting and varnishing. The mural is a gift from the teachers to the students.
"Teachers Are Like Fire” ©2000 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2nd grade class and families
Size: 12’x 9’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: JFK Elementary School, 785 Price St, Daly City
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2nd grade class and families
Size: 12’x 9’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: JFK Elementary School, 785 Price St, Daly City
“Garden of Dreams” ©2001 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with K-5th graders, families, teachers, staff and volunteers
Size: 50’x 12’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: JFK Elementary School, 785 Price St, Daly City
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with K-5th graders, families, teachers, staff and volunteers
Size: 50’x 12’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: JFK Elementary School, 785 Price St, Daly City
“Welcome to Our World” ©2002 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 3rd graders
Size: 12’x 9’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: JFK Elementary School, 785 Price St, Daly City
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 3rd graders
Size: 12’x 9’, acrylic on cinder block
Location: JFK Elementary School, 785 Price St, Daly City
Description
3rd graders researched and found photos of indigenous animals of each continent. Ellen created a black & white sketch, then a colored drawing. Next she gridded the wall, and painted the mural. Students visited on a daily basis to discuss the mural, ask questions and offer "suggestions". They pointed out the countries their families originated from. The mural is located on their daily route to the cafeteria.
“One World, One Heart” ©2002 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, in collaboration with 6-7th graders and Elizabeth Jameson, parent/member of PTA
Size: 6' x 10', acrylic on cinder block
Location: Stanley Middle School, 3455 School St., Lafayette
Funding: Potrero Nuevo Fund
Directed by: Ellen Silva, in collaboration with 6-7th graders and Elizabeth Jameson, parent/member of PTA
Size: 6' x 10', acrylic on cinder block
Location: Stanley Middle School, 3455 School St., Lafayette
Funding: Potrero Nuevo Fund
Description
The tragic events of terror arising in the US and the world, and related acts of violence within schools, (such as Columbine High School) caused the parents of the Stanley Middle School PTA to look for ways to enhance the culture of respect and tolerance of others at their school. In the spirit of tolerance, they proposed the creation of a mural of Diversity, Tolerance & Respect. The mural is centrally located on the campus, near a commemorative plaque dedicated to those who lost their lives on 9/11 i n New York City. The mural conceptualizes images of what it means to be a member of a respectful, peaceful, and tolerant community. The mural includes images of various cultures and languages represented in the student body.
"I worked closely with Ms. Silva during the entire Stanley Mural Project. I accompanied Ellen in all of her meetings with the students. We painted the mural together. Not only is she an excellent artist, she is master teacher. I have worked with children my whole life, but Ellen is patient with children, and is also talented in communicating with them! There were many times when the Stanley students were "acting up", and 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. Throughout the project, Ellen continued to impress us with her artistic skills and love of children. Ellen is a master of detail, and a true professional. She is highly organized. She completed the mural on time. Most importantly, she was generous, and always went an extra mile to complete a beautiful."
—Elizabeth Jameson, JDL
"I worked closely with Ms. Silva during the entire Stanley Mural Project. I accompanied Ellen in all of her meetings with the students. We painted the mural together. Not only is she an excellent artist, she is master teacher. I have worked with children my whole life, but Ellen is patient with children, and is also talented in communicating with them! There were many times when the Stanley students were "acting up", and 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. Throughout the project, Ellen continued to impress us with her artistic skills and love of children. Ellen is a master of detail, and a true professional. She is highly organized. She completed the mural on time. Most importantly, she was generous, and always went an extra mile to complete a beautiful."
—Elizabeth Jameson, JDL
"Everett Turns 75” ©2004 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with Jaime Wynn, and 6-7th grade Art Classes
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on stucco
Location: Everett Middle School, 450 Church St, San Francisco
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with Jaime Wynn, and 6-7th grade Art Classes
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on stucco
Location: Everett Middle School, 450 Church St, San Francisco
"Our Second Home” ©2004 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with Jaime Wynn and 12th grade
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on stucco
Location: Hebrew Academy (K-12), 645 14th Ave., San Francisco
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with Jaime Wynn and 12th grade
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on stucco
Location: Hebrew Academy (K-12), 645 14th Ave., San Francisco
"Learning Tree” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4th grades
Size: 22' x 5.5, acrylic on stucco
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4th grades
Size: 22' x 5.5, acrylic on stucco
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"California Habitats-1” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"California Habitats-2” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"California Habitats-3” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"California Habitats-4” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5-8th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5-8th grades
Size: 13' x 22.5, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"Garden Gate-1” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 5' x 8, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 5' x 8, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"Garden Gate-2” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 5' x 8, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 2-4th grades
Size: 5' x 8, acrylic on wood
Location: San Carlos Charter Learning Center, 750 Dartmouth Ave, San Carlos
"Enchanted Jungle” ©2005 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade Art Class
Size: 7' x 22', acrylic on wood
Location: Woodside Elementary, Woodside
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade Art Class
Size: 7' x 22', acrylic on wood
Location: Woodside Elementary, Woodside
"Marine Mammals” ©2006 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with K-2 Classes
Size: 30' x 9', acrylic on stucco
Location: Ocean Shore Elementary, Pacifica
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with K-2 Classes
Size: 30' x 9', acrylic on stucco
Location: Ocean Shore Elementary, Pacifica
"Starry, Starry Night” ©2006 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 6-7th grades
Size: 5' x 8, acrylic on wood
Location: Mid–Point Program, Baden High School, South San Francisco 2006:
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 6-7th grades
Size: 5' x 8, acrylic on wood
Location: Mid–Point Program, Baden High School, South San Francisco 2006:
"Dreams” ©2007 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 7-8th grades
Size: 20' x 8’, two benches, acrylic on wood
Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 200 Phillips Dr, Marin City
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 7-8th grades
Size: 20' x 8’, two benches, acrylic on wood
Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 200 Phillips Dr, Marin City
"Bugs 'n Things” ©2007 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with Kindergartners
Size: 9.5' x 19'
Location: Woodside Elementary, Woodside
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with Kindergartners
Size: 9.5' x 19'
Location: Woodside Elementary, Woodside
"Rainforest Habitat - Bench 1” ©2008 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with first grade class
Size: 1’x 6’, two benches, acrylic on wood
Location: Lawton Elementary School, 31st at Lawton, San Francisco
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with first grade class
Size: 1’x 6’, two benches, acrylic on wood
Location: Lawton Elementary School, 31st at Lawton, San Francisco
"Rainforest Habitat - Bench 2” ©2008 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with first grade class
Size: 1’x 6’, two benches, acrylic on wood
Location: Lawton Elementary School, 31st at Lawton, San Francisco
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with first grade class
Size: 1’x 6’, two benches, acrylic on wood
Location: Lawton Elementary School, 31st at Lawton, San Francisco
"Peace in our World” ©2008 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with first grade class
Size: 5’x 32’, acrylic on sheetrock
Location: Miraloma Elementary, 175 Omar Way, San Francisco
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with first grade class
Size: 5’x 32’, acrylic on sheetrock
Location: Miraloma Elementary, 175 Omar Way, San Francisco
"Fairy Tales” ©2008 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4-8th grade
Size: 9.5' x 9.5'
Location: Woodside Elementary, Woodside
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4-8th grade
Size: 9.5' x 9.5'
Location: Woodside Elementary, Woodside
"Coastal Creatures” ©2008 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4th grade
Size: 9.5' x 9.5'
Location: Pescadero Elementary, Pescadero
Funded by: Donation from the South Coast Artists Alliance
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4th grade
Size: 9.5' x 9.5'
Location: Pescadero Elementary, Pescadero
Funded by: Donation from the South Coast Artists Alliance
"Our Environment" ©2009 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade
Size: 21' x 7.5'
Location: Daniel Webster Elementary, Daly City
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade
Size: 21' x 7.5'
Location: Daniel Webster Elementary, Daly City
"Save our Rainforest” ©2009 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4 grade
Size: 21' x 9.5'
Location: Pescadero Elementary, Pescadero
Funded by: Donation from the South Coast Artists Alliance
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 4 grade
Size: 21' x 9.5'
Location: Pescadero Elementary, Pescadero
Funded by: Donation from the South Coast Artists Alliance
Description
Ellen met with PTA president Shannon Webb and 4-5th grade teacher Jim Hancock to begin working with Jim's 4th grade students using "Save the Rainforest" as their mural theme for 2010. The mural project is funded by a donation from the South Coast Artists Alliance.
Using books for reference and their imaginations, the students drew their impressions of the Rainforest.
Using books for reference and their imaginations, the students drew their impressions of the Rainforest.
"Chinese New Year” ©2009 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade art class
Size: 20 'x 8’, acrylic on MDO board
Location: Phillips-Brooks School, Menlo Park
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade art class
Size: 20 'x 8’, acrylic on MDO board
Location: Phillips-Brooks School, Menlo Park
"Life Lessons-1” ©2009 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade class
Size: Two 4’x 8’ boards, acrylic on wood
Location: Marin Country Day School, 5221 Paradise Dr., Corte Maderas
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade class
Size: Two 4’x 8’ boards, acrylic on wood
Location: Marin Country Day School, 5221 Paradise Dr., Corte Maderas
"Life Lessons-2” ©2009 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade class
Size: Two 4’x 8’ boards, acrylic on wood
Location: Marin Country Day School, 5221 Paradise Dr., Corte Maderas
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade class
Size: Two 4’x 8’ boards, acrylic on wood
Location: Marin Country Day School, 5221 Paradise Dr., Corte Maderas
"Life Lessons-3” ©2009 Ellen Silva
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade class
Size: Two 4’x 8’ boards, acrylic on wood
Location: Marin Country Day School, 5221 Paradise Dr., Corte Maderas
Directed by: Ellen Silva, with 5th grade class
Size: Two 4’x 8’ boards, acrylic on wood
Location: Marin Country Day School, 5221 Paradise Dr., Corte Maderas