Since 2017, the children of HIP (Kindergarten through 8th grade) created four murals in the basement of Hazleton One Community Center with the help of our certified art therapist, Deb Telatovich. Themes and content for each mural were conceived and added to over time by the students through a creative strategy presently being developed at HIP.

“Mural-making is an imaginative and attractive alternative to the written word. Particularly for those unable to articulate their experiences, this mural-making strategy seeks to authentically document the students’ perceptions and lived experiences.

Students design and paint the murals without fear of being judged. Through holding a ‘safe and ‘protected space”(Kalff, 1980), participating students developed a trusting relationship with me, which enabled them to enjoy the creative process (because I was not judging them) and take baby steps in expressing themselves and developing their voice in the safe environment of their own images.

Methodically, through different means, common themes and content appeared, were drawn up, put on a flash drive, enlarged with a projector, and placed in the mural to the whim of the student-artist.” - Deb Telatovich

 “A Man’s Best Bug” by Knoah Bailey
July 30, 2019

Once upon a time, there was a Bug Inspector who lived in a treehouse.

He loved to eat flies and drink from the lake.

He could speak “bee” so the bees make him honey.

He likes to look for caterpillars and all who live in his tree, like butterflies. He likes to watch the caterpillars turn into butterflies.

He likes to watch the sun rise with the ants and the moon set with the bees.

Two best friends.

Knoah, age 9, wrote this story for the “Butterflies and Bugs” mural as a HIP summer camp student.