For Immediate Release

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jordan@jgpr.net

Artist in Residence Makes First Stop in Sudbury at Loring Elementary School

SUDBURY — A traveling artist who has worked with students across the country made his first of three stops in Sudbury late last month, visiting the Loring School for a week-long residency. 

Bren Bataclan — a Boston-based artist who has painted more than 200 murals for schools, hospitals and businesses as part of his Smile Project — served as an artist in residence throughout the week of Nov. 18 before unveiling two finished murals on Friday, Nov. 22.

Bataclan worked with Loring fifth graders to create two unique murals on the school’s interior that represent the school’s core values of respect, caring, best effort and responsibility. Using those values as guides, he and the students conceptualized and created 40 different symbols to represent the values and the community as a whole. 

Using those symbols, Bataclan and the fifth grade class created different characters that now adorn the school’s walls.

“Bren’s visit to Loring was a great way to not only add some vibrancy to our physical space, but bring our core values to life in a colorful and lasting way,” Loring Assistant Principal David Gaita said. “It was exciting to see our fifth graders so engaged in this project, and I’m grateful for the chance to help provide students with these kinds of unique opportunities.”

Among the symbols Bataclan painted are a computer, books, a pencil, a musical note, a heart and more. Having left behind a character on the walls that represents each Loring fifth grader in some way, Bataclan will head to Noyes Elementary during the week of Dec. 9, and Haynes in early 2020 for similar residency programs.

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