The Karns High School art department recently teamed up with Karns Pre-K to breathe new life into their building.
Spearheaded by Karns Pre-K Principal Jason Harris, the project aimed to create a welcoming atmosphere for students and parents at the school’s entrance, marking the beginning of a colorful transformation for the entire building.
Harris envisioned a space that exuded warmth and cheerfulness, especially for the district’s youngest students and their families entering school for the first time.
“A lot of times, a student starting in Pre-K is a family’s first interaction with Knox County Schools, and we want to make a good first impression,” he said. “I hope we can continue working throughout the school to create colorful, whimsical murals that showcase Knoxville and the Karns community on our walls.”
Recognizing the potential of his community’s artistic talents, Harris reached out to the Karns High School art department to propose a collaboration.
Kevin Gentry, the art teacher at Karns High School, organized a team of dedicated student artists who embarked on the journey to bring Harris’s vision to life.
“The building needed some visual enhancements, especially when people first come into the lobby,” Gentry said. “I pitched the idea to our students in the National Art Honor Society because part of the purpose of that group is to serve through the arts.”
Students began brainstorming ideas in August to share with the staff at the preschool based on the initial concepts presented by Harris.
“I drew the design digitally and sent that in to get everyone’s opinions, and then we took those critiques and made changes,” said student artist Isabella Hunt. “They wanted cartoons and children’s books. It was hard at first because we didn’t want to copy ideas or characters from books, but I think we did really well making it look cartoony and welcoming.”
The project presented a novel opportunity for the students involved, marking their first experiences working on a mural.
“There was a really good learning curve because we’ve never done anything like this before,” said Reece Peacock, another student artist. “We had to get the proportions and colors right before we started painting. It turned out really nice for our first time.”
The artists reflected on the significance of leaving a lasting imprint on their community, envisioning future generations marveling at the mural and reminiscing about its creation.
“I can imagine being grown up and telling my kids about how I painted the mural at their school,” Peacock said. “It’s so cool to know that people could possibly see your art every day for forever.”
The completion of the mural not only signifies the culmination of months of hard work but also heralds a new chapter in the collaborative relationship between Karns High School and Karns Pre-K, an embodiment of the Karns community spirit.