Every day, many students rush to their classes, catching only a glance of the giant splashes of color on the walls, whether the art is a recreation of a famous masterpiece, a series of symbols representing a specific school subject or a collaborative project full of global style. These murals often fade into the background of daily life at Green Hope. However, a closer look reveals that these are not just simple decorations. Instead, these murals serve as quiet guides throughout the hallways, each telling its own story.
The inspiration that brought these murals to life originated from a desire to give back to the school community. According to Melissa Poppe, a staff member at Green Hope High School (NBCT, Visual Arts Teacher, Fine Arts Department Chair and National Art Honor Society Advisor), the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) spent years looking for ways to leave a lasting mark. “Through the years, the National Art Society wanted to give back to the school,” Ms. Poppe explains. “One year, we chose to design a mural for each department at the main campus.”
To accomplish this, a deeply collaborative process was established. Students broke into groups and sat down with different departments to ask how they wanted to be represented. As Ms. Poppe describes it, “The students broke into groups and talked to the departments about what they wanted to represent their department. The idea sprung from there.” While murals, unfortunately, cannot be added to the mods, the main building was transformed through this effort to visualize the various subjects students study every day.
Different sections of the school tell different historical stories. Ms. Poppe notes that the 300 hallway murals are the final project of AP Studio students, a tradition that dates back decades. “They choose an artist from history and then a piece from their collection to educate fellow and future students about.”
In the 200 locker bay, just outside the Media Center door, a different kind of story exists. This mural was a massive collaboration between the World Language department and Visual Arts classes. Ms. Poppe points out that the participants did not just work together locally, “they worked with Dominican artist Marhmi” to bring professional artistry and a global perspective directly into the school halls.
These murals significantly changed how people feel about the school environment. Ms. Poppe explains that the impact is visible even as years pass, noting that “students and parents love walking down the hallways, especially the 300 hallway. They comment on it every year.” The art transforms halls into lively spaces that feel like a community.
Artist Marcus Hulbig (‘26), a senior at Green Hope High School, explains that the goal of his artwork is to make the space feel personal. “I think that overall I want the people who use the space to feel a sense of ownership over the mural and to find a sense of community in it,” Hulbig says. “That is why I always take input from whoever is using the space when coming up with my design.” By including the input of those who live and work in these spaces during the design process, the murals become a shared part of the school’s identity.
There is more to this art than just bright colors; the “heart” behind the art shows you how much effort went into making it. “We hope that the art brings joy, but also conversations about what art can be,” Ms. Poppe says. “We love it when students look up the artist and want to know more about their portfolio.”
The story of the school murals is not yet finished. As the school continues to grow, new walls will likely be claimed by new generations of artists. When students walk to class, taking a few seconds to slow down and look at a recreation of a masterpiece or a departmental tribute serves as a reminder that these walls do not just hold up the school – they hold the school’s history, community and creativity.
