Artist Marissa Molina contributes three new murals to PS 13 in Brooklyn: “Keys for Inspiration,” “Raising the Bar,” and “Checkmate.”  This project showcases many different activities available at the school and inspires students to keep reaching for more in life.

The three pieces encompass five adjacent walls and flow in one continuous progression from left to right, beginning with a child in an astronaut’s suit holding the world above them. From there as we turn the corner, butterflies accompany three students looking towards the astronaut child in the distance ,with paper below them with the message: “Keys for inspiration.” This flows into a track field beneath a DNA strand, beside a basketball hoop and ballet slippers below.

A water color palette transitions into a large central book beneath an eagle, their school mascot, holding a banner with the school logo: “Raising the bar to excellence for all.”  On the same back section math symbols leap out of the open book while piano keys spilling out from the right with a girl practicing martial arts and kicking through some of the keys. The sky surrounds her, and also digital circuitry behind signifying programming / electronics. Beyond them, is a giant telescope looking off into space, a giant science beaker and a child playing chess with a girl fencing that wraps around the corner.

This collection emphasizes multiple paths towards inspiration, and features a diverse group of children representative of the student body at PS 13. The murals adorn the central hallway for the 4th grade wing, and transform the space into something motivating and enriching for the students every day.