A new mural now sits in downtown Lebanon, and this one means a little more because it was built by local students for the community they grew up in.
The newest Senior Mural Project was unveiled this week on the backside of Ozark Auto near Commercial and Jackson, celebrating Route 66, local history, and the growing art scene happening in Lebanon.
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What started as a mural project turned into something much bigger for a group of Lebanon High School students now leaving a permanent mark on downtown Lebanon.
The newest Senior Mural Project was officially unveiled on Friday celebrating Route 66, community pride, and the students who helped bring it to life. LHS junior Allison Takacs, LHS junior Michael Owens, LHS senior Sienna Henery, LHS junior Jacey Stark, LHS senior Josie Anderson, and Elizabeth Martin Vasquez, all working together as part of Lebanon High School’s Senior Mural Project led by art teacher Eric Adams.
But for Adams, the important part was making sure students were involved in more than just classroom work.
“The whole point is not just professional artists, but students, to help lift them and guide them,” Adams said during the ceremony.
Students involved in the project have spent the last few years working alongside Linda Spencer and Roberto Regalado Santiago
from Laughingwell Studios, learning how large-scale murals are planned, painted, and installed. Their work has already been part of several murals around town, including the mural at Realty Executives and the Crossroads of the Ozarks project.
This year’s mural focuses on Route 66 as Lebanon prepares for next year’s America 250 celebration.
Adams said they hope the project continues to grow and that more murals will eventually find homes around downtown Lebanon.
And honestly, standing there during the dedication, it felt less like a school project and more like a group of students leaving something behind for the town they call home.
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