Completion Date: (October 24th)
Location: 2626 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23220

Lead Photographer: Katrina Taggart-Hecksher | Assistant Photographer: Brenda Soque

A small child is crouched in the garden of their imagination, in the left hand holding a growing seedling of hope for the future, which has blossomed into a vibrant and diverse bouquet of flowers. In the right hand the child holds a dandelion representing past wishes made, while the three full dandelions represent the opportunities for future generations. Each of the flowers in the bouquet represent a different hope for the future, such as love, purity, transformation, innocence and happiness. Surrounding the child is a watery fluid pattern illustrating nourishment and the connection between all life. Among the pattern and vines are words from children in our community bringing life to their wishes and dreams. This pattern continues around the building representing the process of purification and nourishment.  At the end of the wall blooms a single white lotus flower intertwined with the fluid pattern which symbolizes purity and a new hope for the future. 

The location of our mural being the Children’s Museum/Science Museum/Sprout School played a large role in the development of our concept. We really wanted to include the children’s voices and this is the perfect platform for it. “Once upon…with love” was created as a narrative for children to relate to. We want kids to know they have the power within them to create any future they dream of. The overall response we received from a diverse group of children ages 5-10 is that they have more hope than fear, and we need to nourish that hope.