West Hartford’s Bugbee Elementary School gets a splash of color after muralist Michael Rice designs and creates colorful wall art of their mascot, a bee. 

By Kaily Martinez

Bugbee Elementary School teaches their students that imagination and creativity are nothing to be cut short on. The well-known muralist Michael Rice was invited to their school to showcase his talents on an outdoor canvas.

He began to work on the vibrant mural at Bugbee on Tuesday, May 28, and expects to finish in about eight to nine days, Rice said.

The mural displayed various spray paint colors, such as bright teal, light blue, and coral, to encapsulate the movement of two bees flying away from the honeycomb. As the students began to gather outside on Friday morning, art teacher Liz Bianco encouraged them to talk with one another and brainstorm questions they would like to ask Rice. 

Once the students began to buzz with chatter as they thought of questions, excitement filled the atmosphere, not just because Rice was creating their mural. But it was because the students also felt a sense of accomplishment because they were a part of the process that made it happen.

“I think we just wanted a beautiful touchpoint in our community, and Michael can bring that out,” literacy teacher Beth Mazur said. 

Third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students worked diligently to paint unique designs on hexagon ceramic necklaces to sell at an art show. After selling 400 necklaces to help raise money for Rice to come to their school, the student-based initiative had set them well on their goal with a few thousand dollars, Bianco said. 

While the main goal was to raise money for the mural, students felt included during the process and completion of the project because the ceramic necklace fundraiser helped cover the costs. Similarly, the colors the students used in the ceramic necklaces are reflected throughout the mural and will continue to remind them of the work they accomplished together.  

When drafting ideas for the mural, Bianco said Rice knew their mascot was a bee. However, Bianco told the students Rice was struggling with developing ideas. The students were eager to brainstorm different designs for Rice to use as inspiration for the mural. 

Last year, Bianco drove by a widely known piece in Hartford, Sam, on The Millennium apartment building on Morgan Street, “I have to find who did that,” Bianco said. Once she found his Instagram, Bianco knew she had to try and get him to come to Bugbee. After they exchanged messages regarding the project, Bianco said Rice was “gracious and open to the idea.”

“Hartford was the beginning of my journey,” Rice said when asked about his start to mural art.

Mazur teamed up with Bianco to help bring Rice’s work to West Hartford. Since Rice’s work is primarily in Hartford, she felt it was important to spread his work to West Hartford as well and “beautify our school with his talent,” Mazur said.

Once Rice stepped down from the ladder, he greeted the children and was ready to answer the questions they conjured up together. The questions varied, such as how many murals he has created, how long he has been doing this type of work and whether he only paints on walls. While there was only time for a few questions before the students had to head back inside, they were extremely appreciative of the time they had with him. 

Rice said he was interested in spray paint mural art as a child. In his 30s, he moved to New York and met well-respected muralists who pushed him to go further with his art. The muralists really believed in him and his art, Rice said they told him, “You have the ability to do this, not everybody does.”

When asked, “What message are you trying to convey through your art?” Rice was unsure. Yet, after some thought, he concluded that it is all about starting a conversation. With his art, Rice hopes that two strangers can view his work and become connected through a conversation about the piece, even if it’s just for that moment.

“One of the things I feel we need to do more is to pause and think. A lot that’s bled over from the online world is these quick interactions,” Rice said when asked about what message he’s trying to convey through his art.

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