2025 Arts Education Program Mural
Location: Vassar Elementary School, Aurora, CO
Street Wise Arts muralist Jessica Moon facilitated a collaborative, team-building mural project with the staff at Vassar Elementary School in Aurora. Guided by the school’s unique identity, she drew inspiration from its values and symbolism to shape the mural’s design.
The school’s mascot, the “Prairie Hawk,” is a fictional bird. To give it a real-world counterpart, Jessica chose the Swainson’s Hawk—commonly referred to as a prairie hawk and native to Colorado’s Front Range. Known for one of the longest migrations of any American raptor, Swainson’s Hawks travel thousands of miles to Argentina each fall, forming vast flocks that sweep across the skies of the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central America.
Inspired by this incredible journey, Jessica saw the Swainson’s Hawk as a meaningful metaphor for the student body—individuals from diverse backgrounds, united in a collective path forward. The hawk’s migration reflects qualities such as resilience, adaptability, and the strength found in shared purpose—values that align closely with the spirit of the school community.
To express this metaphor visually, Jessica chose a more symbolic rather than literal approach to representing diversity. In both designs, the hawk serves as a unifying figure, surrounded by wildflowers that represent the varied experiences and backgrounds within the school. A rainbow ties the composition together as a universal emblem of hope, connection, and inclusion.
Jessica Moon’s art can be seen @jessicamoon.art.