Council thanks NHS students for city art
Published 6:53 pm Monday, May 20, 2019
NEDERLAND — City Council members lauded Nederland High School students Monday for their work in beautifying the city.
Students in the art program painted two electrical boxes as a way to improve the city’s appearance and leave their mark.
Valerie Simoneaux, Isabella Barragan, Miranda Hollier, Johan Dubose and Junior Loza-Diaz, all of whom are NHS juniors, painted the boxes.
The box on the corner of Nederland Avenue and 21st Street near Bulldog Stadium shows a different picture on each side of the box. On the side facing the stadium, a student painted a black “N” on a gold background. On the opposite side, “All for one & one for all” is painted in gold on a black backdrop. On the larger sides, a bulldog is breaking through a brick wall holding a football in its paw and a purple feather in its mouth. On the opposite side, a gold football player runs across a football field.
The box at Hillcrest depicts a giant octopus wrapping its tentacle around a ship.
The City Council voted to allow students to paint the boxes at a September meeting.
Four students painted the box in front of the stadium and Hollier painted the box in front of Hillcrest Elementary.
“I would like that bulldog on my fence,” Nederland Mayor Don Albanese said looking at a photo of the painting. “That is high quality work right there. I couldn’t believe that they were hand painted on there like that. They are very professional.”
Ward 1 Councilmember Talmadge Austin also praised the students results.
“When we approved this last year, I was really looking forward to seeing what they could do,” he said. “That is the kind of thing we need in Nederland. That is the beautification people notice when they come through our town.”
NHS art teacher Lynell Smith said she originally planned for the students to paint more boxes, but weather and conflicting schedules limited the time the students had.
Smith said she would like to continue the project and have students paint more boxes next year.
“We’re going to do all of them,” Smith said. “It was our first year, so it was all about getting it started. All of them were involved in another sport. I look forward to going back at it next year.”
However, some students are eager to begin before the next school year begins.
“It took us four months to do,” Simoneaux said. “It was over the course of a few months. I was actually going to talk to Mrs. Smith about doing one in the summer.”
See also: Nederland Council OKs student painting project