Mount Horeb Mental Wellness Murals
with Dama

Mount Horeb | Spring 2018 & Fall 2021 | Design & Lead Artist Amy Zaremba, DAMA Production

Interior School Mural

Mount Horeb High School students drove the entire process of this mural project. After the loss of a friend and classmate to suicide, a small group of students decided to create a mural with the intent to help other students who may be suffereing in silence. The goal of the project was to get students talking through hands-on art making activities and to create a final product designed to address mental wellness and reduce the stigmas surrounding mental illness.

The left side of this design depicts dense plant life that opens into a lighter, more open space to show that the darkness may feel endless but light and hope are right there. The leaves of the plants contain handpainted uplifting messages collected from the entire student body. These leaves are polytab cutouts collaged onto the mural.

Over 1,000 students, teachers and family members had a hand in creating this small mural over the course of 1 busy week in the art room.

PROJECT DETAILS

Interior School Mural
Mount Horeb High School, 305 Eighth St.,

16’ x 8”, House paint on MDO panels with Polytab collage elements

PRODUCTION

Design & Lead Artist Amy Zaremba, DAMA Production

Exterior Mural - Sunn Cafe, 201 E. Main St.

I worked as a grant writer for DAMA from 2017-2020. During this time I pursued grants and held a fundraiser to return to Mount Horeb with the ability to create an exterior mural to share the student’s hopeful message with the larger community. Pandemic related delays pushed our return into 2021. Then, before we could begin, we needed to convince the city council to allow the installation of a mural in historic downtown Mt. Horeb. Our proposed designs were well received; the council embraced our goals and approved the first ever mural in the area.

The amazing art teachers at Mt. Horeb High School gathered students who were driven to spread hope to the community. The kids brainstormed and came up with many incredible ideas which I turned into mural designs for them to choose from. The final design was painted on polytab at the school, mounted on Alumicore panels and installed on the side of a local cafe.

Language on the plaque that accompanies the mural:
This mural was created to promote awareness about mental health and wellness. The held heart shows our ability to love ourselves and to accept love from others. The sun and moon represent our positive thoughts and experiences, as well as the darker ones. We all go through both - often we can’t understand joy until we’ve known pain. The flowers represent growth and tranquility. Remember, flowers start growing as seeds underground and it’s only with sun and storm that they bloom. Surrounding ourselves with nature can bring us peace.

We hope this mural gives you a little perspective and a lot of joy. Please know that you are never alone and that you are loved.

Suicide Hotline Text Number: 741-741
The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386 or text: 678-678
Journey Mental Health Crisis Line/Dane County Crisis Line: 608-280-2600
nami.org