When Scarritt Elementary School closed several years ago, Kansas City Public Schools, the Kansas City Art Institute and the City of Kansas City joined together on a project to reduce vandalism at the school. But in less than two months, vandals have hit twice painting graffiti on some of the murals.
The Art Institute, with the help of the community, designed, created and painted dozens of murals to cover plywood on the boarded-up building. The Scarritt Mural project started in 2014 and will be completed this year.
Hector Casanova, the project designer and assistant professor of art at the Kansas City Art Institute, is disappointed but not angry with the vandals. He doesn't know who they are, but he is inviting them to join the project and help paint the murals.
"And if anything, I would want those people that are attacking the building to reach out and become part of the project and to make their mark in a positive way... To actually impact the community in a way that the community would welcome," said Casanova.
Most of the graffiti at Scarritt has been removed. Casanova is hoping the vandals hear his message and join the team.
This fall, the Kansas City Art Institute is going to paint a mural for Whittier Elementary School, a project with much the same goals as at Scarritt.
For more information about the Scarritt mural project, click here to visit their Facebook page.
