RoseArt art supplies teamed up with actress Beverly Mitchell as part of the creation of a 40,000 square foot chalk paint mural next to the Santa Monica Pier on Tuesday, in order to encourage the children of Santa Monica to be creative and go outside during the summer.
Kids and parents played on and added to the mural while a booth from Los Angeles’ KIIS FM station blasted radio hits, adding to the atmosphere of the event.
The mural event was created to start off what Mitchell, RoseArt, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America hope will be a summer of encouraging children exploring creativity and finding artistic passion outdoors.
Mitchell, known for her portrayal of Lucy on “7th Heaven,” also presented a $50,000 check to the Boys and Girls Clubs from RoseArt and the Mattel Foundation.
“As a new mom I think it’s so important to inspire kids and to get them outside and enjoy this beautiful weather and show their creativity,” Mitchell told the crowd.
The check was accepted by Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Director for Corporate Cause and Partnerships Tim Hogan, to invest in outdoor activities and arts programs.
“[Boys and Girls Clubs of America] has an impact with kids in 4,000 communities nationwide,” Hogan said as grinning children held the oversized check up for the cameras. “We believe in working hard to invest in kids academic and creative futures, and get them involved with their communities.”
Hogan thanked RoseArt for the donation, adding that “those futures can’t exist without starting with an environment where kids can be creative, find their passion, and this donation is a huge step forward for that.”
More than 2,500 pounds of RoseArt Washable Chalk Paint was brought to a section of the Pier’s parking lot to create the mural, a huge smiling sun in the center. Surrounding the sun were paintings and cartoons of dragons, mermaids, fish, and R2D2 from “Star Wars”, as well as kids’ games such as hopscotch and beanbag throwing also made of chalk paint.
The mural took a team of RoseArt artists an estimated 360 man-hours to complete over several days.
Inspiration for the project came from a desire to get kids to appreciate the summer weather and an appreciation for the tangibility of chalk paint.
“I was playing with this chalk paint with my daughter, and I’m not going to lie think I liked it even more than she did, even though she ended up wearing most of it,” Mitchell said in an interview. “I’ve had the honor many times to contribute to the work that Boys and Girls Clubs do, I’m so glad to bring help bring people out to experience this mural and this weather.”
Hogan expressed similar sentiments for the summer weather.
“It’s getting warmer out, kids should be outside, and this event is a great way to inspire that,” he said. “Chalk paint is perfect, because the kids can make things with it and get a little dirty,” he added with a laugh.
