Middleton High School students Maddy McMahon, Alexander Byrd, Sam Curry and Elise Deiite recently worked with alum Natalie Hinahara on a mural at Bauman Community Pool.
The students got involved after hearing about the competition at school and submitting their own character designs.
Byrd entered with confidence: “As I mostly focus my art on cartoons and character drawings, I felt like I had a chance in it.”
McMahon, on the other hand, wasn’t as certain.
“I submitted a drawing without really knowing what to expect, but I was surprised and excited when my design was chosen,” she said.
Although their character designs didn’t pan out for the mural, the students played an important role.
“We helped with the beginning stages of the painting process,” McMahon said. “My role focused on primarily filling in colors and helping lay down the foundation for the final details to be built on.”
Another highlight for the students was seeing the mural come together.
“My favorite part about contributing to the mural was seeing it all come together as more color and more details were added,” said Curry. “I was able to see where the final product was going, and it makes me even more excited to see the finished mural when the pool opens next summer.”
Working with a professional artist gave the students a glimpse into an art career, and they noted that Hinahara explained the process and guided them along the way.
“Before going into the first day of painting the mural, I was intimidated to work with a professional artist, but it turned out to be a fun and relaxing experience,” said Curry. “There weren’t any expectations for us to be perfect at painting. All of the volunteers worked in different mediums, so it was very low-stakes and relaxing. Plus, we were able to get insight about art school and art careers from a professional.”
Deitte agreed: “I really enjoyed it! It was interesting seeing what a career in art could look like. Natalie was so nice and amazing to work with!”
Byrd felt that leaving a mark on the Middleton community was especially meaningful.
“I don’t know whether it’s cheesy or narcissistic to say, but I’ve always wanted to make something bigger than me, something people will actually see,” Byrd said. “Hopefully, I can do more stuff than just this, but it’s still a great start toward that goal.”
McMahon echoed those sentiments: “I feel lucky to have helped create something that will be a part of our community for such a long time. It means a lot to me that people will get to see and enjoy the mural when they're at the pool, and that I had a hand in making that possible.”
The Bauman Community Pool mural will be complete for the 2026 season for the community to enjoy.
“I can't even express how excited I am to be able to see this mural complete next summer,” Deitte said. “I love art and I love art that brings positive change to the community. Murals always catch my eye when I pass by them, they make a place feel more like home. I can't wait to see that something I helped with become an important memory for so many kids! I really hope this mural is appreciated for the hard work put into it, and that it lasts a long long time to come.”
Watch WMTV 15 News coverage to learn more about Hinahara and the mural.
Photo credit: City of Middleton