Two local high school leadership groups collaborated on a public art project to beautify downtown Franklin and promote community service.
The Franklin Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council and the Interact Club, Franklin Community High School’s arm of the Franklin Rotary Club, were both looking at doing public art projects, so the groups pooled their resources and decided on a joint project to paint two electric boxes at Main and Jefferson streets, in the heart of downtown Franklin, said Jenna Newton, a junior who is president of both clubs.
The Interact Club’s design by senior Zoe Catlin asks residents to “Be the Change Together” and celebrates how its commitment to service sets Franklin apart.
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The leadership council’s design by Franklin graduate Megan Tennell, showcases city landmarks such as the Johnson County courthouse, the high school and the Artcraft Theatre that all Grizzly Cubs, current and former, appreciate, Newton said.
Students hoped the designs would inspire and add beauty to downtown, said Newton and Sydney Clements, a senior and communication chair for Interact.
The community is already responding to the art, Clements said. As students painted Sunday, passersby smiled and offered positive feedback.
The project began last school year, but was delayed due to the pandemic, Newton said.
Club members painted the boxes on Sunday after the design was outlined Saturday by Patrick Tisdale, a Franklin Creative Council adviser, Clements said.
The delay prohibited some graduates who worked on the project last year from helping due to their college schedules, Newton said.
To keep things safe, students painted in shifts and wore masks while they worked, Newton said.
“Ultimately, it is a relief to have it done. We were thrilled about the project throughout the process … but COVID-19 put a big stump in the way of completion,” Newton said.
The paint job is complete other than a layer of sealant that will be applied this week, Clements said.
They couldn’t have completed the projects without help from their adult mentors, Clements and Newton said.
The students picked designs for the boxes, which were approved by the city with guidance from Mayor Steve Barnett, Newton said. The process was a good introduction to how city government works, and a good public speaking experience to present the proposal to the Franklin City Council, she said.
The club also worked with Tisdale and LuAnn Lancton, who spearheaded electric box painting at the Franklin Farmer’s Market, for design and materials advice, Clements said. The two helped them find the right paints and sealant to use to make sure the designs last for years, she said.
The Franklin Elks Club donated about $1,000 for paint and materials to complete the project, Newton said. Students didn’t have to do a fundraiser as they have for past projects, she said.
Barnett said the project was just one in a long line of great projects the youth council has come up with since its inception in 2017. For next year’s project, the council is already working on plans to install a baby box at a local fire station, he said.
Though the student leaders came up with the project on their own, it aligns well with the city’s goals to bring more art to downtown Franklin, Barnett said.
Earlier this year, the city created a Public Art Commission, which will approve and oversee public art displays, something the City of Greenwood also has. With the commission and the declaration of downtown as an Arts Destination Area, more murals and public art can be expected in the future, he said.
