Andino Shares Artistic Magic Through Mural Project

Just days before class president and valedictorian Carolyn Andino walked across the stage to accept her diploma, she shared one final gift with Onondaga Jr./Sr. High School: a mural framing one of the auditorium doors.

The project, created through Mrs. Passetti’s Painting and Drawing II class, was both a challenge and a triumph for the new graduate. Each year, students in the class are asked to complete a large-scale project, which may include painting a mural somewhere in the school. The only stipulation is that it must be finished before the end of the marking period, or the student must commit to completing it after class.

What was originally expected to take about six weeks turned into a nearly five-month project for Andino, who began painting in February and continued working until just a few days before graduation. The final product is a vibrant blend of local flora and fauna, magical touches and personal details.

“I had a great time doing this,” Andino said. “It took close to five months, but it was well worth it.”

The mural features several animals found around Central New York, including possums and raccoons that Andino recalls seeing while driving. She also painted a squirrel and a chipmunk, two animals her dad and godmother aren’t especially fond of, so naturally, she included them on the wall. At the bottom of the mural are her three bunnies, Honey, Claire and Clover. Other personal touches include her handprints and the narcissus flower, her birth month flower.

As a Disney fan, Andino also made sure to include plenty of whimsy, magic and hidden references. The golden flower from Tangled radiates sparkling wisps across the mural and up to the North Star, an homage to Peter Pan. The three fairies from Sleeping Beauty also appear in the piece, spreading a trail of magic as they float through the night sky.

“There were a lot of struggles and triumphs in this project,” Andino said. “And I’m really proud of it.”

The mural is one of many legacies Andino leaves behind at Onondaga Jr./Sr. High School. Now officially an alumna, she plans to study music at Rollins College this fall.