When Upper School Art Teacher Tania O’Donnell’s design was selected as the next traffic calming mural in Media, she knew she had to involve her art students in the process.   

In 2020, the Media Borough Council completed a traffic calming study and plan to increase safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. One of the strategies in the plan is to paint murals on the street surface to slow traffic through intersections.  

In partnership with the Media Arts Council, the Borough selected O’Donnell’s design featuring black, white, and gray squirrels, all of which can be found in Media, as the second mural in the street art program. The mural, titled “Squirrels of Media” is located at the intersection of Third and Monroe streets. 

O’Donnell and her Studio Art 2 students traveled to the intersection in Media to create the grid and outline the mural for a painting party held on Saturday, September 24 for community members to participate in bringing O’Donnell’s design to life. Many Shipley art students were there to help paint the mural.

To hear about Tania’s experience, view her mural, and view a recap of the party, visit the Media Arts Council website: https://www.mediaartscouncil.org/public-art/traffic-calming-project.