Usually, painting on the school’s walls would be considered vandalism and would be severely punished, but for Ramapo’s AP art students, it is only a part of their final project. The murals that decorate the halls of Ramapo are a necessary staple of the school, and by the end of June, the class of 2025 will have contributed to them, leaving their mark on the school for years to come after graduation.
If you walk through the halls now, you might see art students painting in between classes or during lunch periods. They began planning their murals earlier in the year, picking a quote and designing the mural around it. After getting their piece accepted, they are given a wall in the school and, as many may have seen, they started drawing and painting. AP Art student Madeline Klecha says she is “super excited to start” and that this is something she has been waiting for since freshman year.
When asked about the project, Ramapo AP Art teacher Mr. Quirk said that “It is incredibly gratifying to see your students grow and change, and this group of artists this year, I am very proud of. Their ideas and passion for their work were evident early on, and they took really exciting risks and challenges with their individual work. Madeline, Nora Coffey, Nora Bellantone, Danny Franzen, Jane Hourihan, and Henry Horgan all did different styles and mediums of art, and it’s been an honor and privilege to work with and get to know them.”
He noted that “Getting kids to the AP level usually means I have worked with those students at least for a year, some two, some all 4. So, for me, it is very special that these students really get to know you and develop art and ideas together. It is the most rewarding part of my teaching here at Ramapo.” The students of Ramapo should be excited to see the final results of these talented artists’ creative projects. Congratulations to the art students of the class of 2025!
