The City of Temecula, Community Services Department and the Temecula Valley Museum announce a new Student Art Mural in Sam Hicks Monument Park (28300 Mercedes Street).  This temporary public art piece Fall Colors celebrates the Autumnal Equinox for 2022.

The Student Mural Project seeks to support emerging artists by providing a space to showcase their craft. Student artists paint a mural on varying topics, facilitated by Bigfoot Graphics.  For September and October, we celebrate the autumnal equinox with Fall Colors. 

This mural was created by students from Clarissa Creative Foundation, including Evan Tovar (17), Susan H. Nelson, Ava Schroeder (16) & Kayleen Castillo (14) from Chaparral High School; Allie Lindley (14) from Temecula Valley High School; Camille Gallup (12) from Dorothy McElhinney Middle School; Savriel Aquino (12) from Temecula Preparatory School; Mia Flores (13) & Kyla Alvarez (14) from Temecula Preparatory School’s National Art Honor Society; and Abby Lee (12) from Day Middle School.

This mural depicts the fall colors of Temecula with hot air balloons floating through the crisp autumn air. The Autumnal Equinox, when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length; also, either of the two points in the sky where the ecliptic (the Sun’s annual pathway) and the celestial equator intersect.  In the Northern Hemisphere the Autumnal Equinox falls about September 22 or 23, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south.  According to the astronomical definition of the seasons, the autumnal equinox also marks the beginning of autumn, which lasts until the Winter Solstice on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere.

Temecula Mayor Matt Rahn commented, “The City of Temecula celebrates the changing of the seasons with this mural.  The students from Clarissa Creative Foundation are to be congratulated for creating this vibrant mural depicting Fall in a uniquely Temecula Way.” 

Temecula Mayor Pro Tem Zak Schwank stated, “As Clarissa Creative Foundation provides a tuition-free visual arts program for youth who face economic or social disadvantage, we are very pleased to have the ability to offer this creative outlet which allows their students to the opportunity showcase their talent in a public forum.” 

The mural is now displayed in Sam Hicks Monument Park.  The museum will also celebrate the Autumnal Equinox through facts and free crafts in the museums Art and Education Room. All are welcome! For more information, please call (951) 694-6450.