Celebrating Campus Community Murals
United through art, LJCDS has created a vibrant legacy of collaboration rooted in shared values.
Three powerful mural projects—the Lower School Community Mural, the Butterfly Project Mural, and Where Do We Go From Here?—now brighten LJCDS’ campus, symbolizing unity, resilience, and inclusion. Each mural involved collaboration with students in all divisions, faculty from multiple departments, plus families and staff. The collaboration continued with local artists, nonprofits, and students in other countries.
One of the most meaningful aspects of the new murals is the way they have created opportunities for students to lead and inspire their peers. Upper School students who were involved in the projects now serve as docents, guiding Lower and Middle School students—as well as campus visitors—through these vibrant works of art. These tours have become a catalyst for sharing the stories and values behind the murals, perfectly exemplifying the closeness and unity of our one-campus community.
Lower School Community Mural: A Celebration of Belonging
The Lower School Community Mural, led by the LJCDS chapter of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), beautifully captures the concept of community through the eyes of the fourth graders. Upper School NAHS members held brainstorming workshops where Grade 4 students expressed what school meant and where they felt a sense of belonging through drawings and words. Inspired by these ideas, the high schoolers designed mural sketches on parachute cloth. Students, families, and faculty brought these murals to life in a community painting event, creating a shared artistic experience. Installed in the Lower School bathrooms, these murals brighten the space and remind students daily of their roles in shaping a caring, respectful environment.
The Lower School Community Mural, led by the LJCDS chapter of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), beautifully captures the concept of community through the eyes of the fourth graders. Upper School NAHS members held brainstorming workshops where Grade 4 students expressed what school meant and where they felt a sense of belonging through drawings and words. Inspired by these ideas, the high schoolers designed mural sketches on parachute cloth. Students, families, and faculty brought these murals to life in a community painting event, creating a shared artistic experience. Installed in the Lower School bathrooms, these murals brighten the space and remind students daily of their roles in shaping a caring, respectful environment.
Butterfly Project Mural: Honoring History and Embracing Hope
Installed at the main school entrance, this two-story mural features images of nature, including the Torrey pine—a rare tree species unique to San Diego’s coastline and a symbol of strength and resilience. Featured in the LJCDS logo, the Torrey pine’s extensive root system allows it to endure harsh coastal winds, shaping each tree into a complex, unique individual. Its presence in the mural connects the school’s identity with themes of growth and perseverance.
Installed at the main school entrance, this two-story mural features images of nature, including the Torrey pine—a rare tree species unique to San Diego’s coastline and a symbol of strength and resilience. Featured in the LJCDS logo, the Torrey pine’s extensive root system allows it to endure harsh coastal winds, shaping each tree into a complex, unique individual. Its presence in the mural connects the school’s identity with themes of growth and perseverance.
The Butterfly Project Mural serves as a moving tribute to the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. LJCDS’ connection with The Butterfly Project began in 2018 when students, faculty, and staff first painted ceramic butterflies, and continued as recently as 2023. Over the years, Torreys shared this initiative globally, including with the Making History Alive program.
“I carry the lessons I learned from Making History Alive with me today,” shares Elinor Stickney ’25. “In 2022, we went to Berlin, met with German students, visited the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, and heard from survivors and leaders in genocide studies. It was an eye-opening experience that showed me how a community and art can triumph over hardship.”
Through a partnership with ArtReach San Diego, the LJCDS community shared their vision of the mural, and a team of 20 student volunteers from Grades 5–12 brought it to life by collaborating on the design and painting. ArtReach artists handled painting the mural above the student’s reach and secured 725 ceramic butterflies to the wall. These represent some of the over 2,000 butterflies painted and fired on campus. Each butterfly is a heartfelt reminder of empathy, transformation, and commitment to stand against bigotry.
Where Do We Go From Here?: A Call to Action
Led by artist Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen, Where Do We Go From Here? is a series inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, sparking conversations around respect, social responsibility, and justice. When the class of 2026 was eighth graders, they reflected on Dr. King’s vision of a better world and created images that embody these ideals. Over 300 students, parents, guardians, faculty, and staff contributed to painting the mural’s nearly 100 panels, making it a true community effort. Installed in prominent locations in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, the mural series poses questions like “Is everyone respected? Is everyone included?”—encouraging students of all ages to consider their roles in fostering an inclusive, compassionate campus.
Led by artist Jay Wolf Schlossberg-Cohen, Where Do We Go From Here? is a series inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, sparking conversations around respect, social responsibility, and justice. When the class of 2026 was eighth graders, they reflected on Dr. King’s vision of a better world and created images that embody these ideals. Over 300 students, parents, guardians, faculty, and staff contributed to painting the mural’s nearly 100 panels, making it a true community effort. Installed in prominent locations in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, the mural series poses questions like “Is everyone respected? Is everyone included?”—encouraging students of all ages to consider their roles in fostering an inclusive, compassionate campus.
Director of the Center for Excellence in Citizenship Jonathan Shulman and Director of the Arts Robert Wagner spoke at the dedication ceremony on October 15, 2024. They shared, “Public art has the power to shape a community. These murals are more than just beautiful paintings—they are expressions of who we want to be as a school and the stories we wish to tell. The murals are a colorful and vibrant reminder to us all that as much as we should stand up for our rights, we must also meet our responsibilities as citizens of our community to preserve those rights for all.”
Together, these murals transform our campus, reminding us that public art is not only about beautifying spaces but also about creating a community legacy built on shared values. For years to come, these murals will serve as both a celebration of our unity and a call to actively uphold the principles we hold dear.
