In front of the murals and the remainder of Paul VI High are (from left) Enrico Cecchi, Arian Assadzadeh, Rockett Beeson, Austin Eilbert, Sarah Bird, Sofia Mesa-Morales, Isabela Colon Matthews, PJ Naber and David Meyer. (Not pictured: Kaia Collins). Photo by Bonnie Hobbs.
Kaia Collins – History: “I was inspired by the lasting grace and historical importance of these three buildings – City of Fairfax Regional Library, Historic Blenheim and Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center. The spliced look allows them to be showcased and appreciated equally.”
Austin Eilbert – Nature: “I aimed to represent the diverse people and activities within Fairfax City’s natural world. Inspired by early 20th-century Art Nouveau, this piece is irregular and non-symmetrical to mirror the complexities of nature.” * Sarah Bird – The Arts: “My work depicts important aspects of the arts around Fairfax – ‘The Dancer’ by Chris Erny, ‘Peace Bird’ by Michael Cain and my personal favorite, ‘Dogwoods’ by Amanda Lutz. Seeing art around Fairfax makes me happy and makes everything lively and interesting.”
Isabela Colon Matthews – Socializing: “The girls’ outfits are inspired by clothing from one of my favorite video games. I mixed different styles to make distinctive outfits; creating the girl on the left’s pattern was a challenge. There’s a light show going on, around the city they’re walking in, and I included falling snow for additional movement.”
Sofia Morales – Transportation: “Sustainable, environmentally friendly transportation in Fairfax means a lot to me. If I could, I’d bike everywhere. I was an avid, CUE Bus rider before COVID-19; it takes Fairfax citizens where they need to go at a reasonable cost, and public transit is infinitely better for the environment.”
Arian Assadzadeh – Education: “Education is one of, if not the, most important thing in one’s life. It shows you your passion and carves the road for your future. I’m always excited to learn. and this project allowed me to convey how important education was for me.”
Rockett Beeson – Volunteerism: “I used a shape that envelopes the actions and links the characters. With a circle, I centered the focus on the sun and the name ‘Fairfax,’ which set the tone. The characters are of varying race and gender, with different clothing, to portray the diverse and open community Fairfax has and wants to represent. I used warm yellows to show Fairfax’s calm and welcoming tone that’s part of its charm.”