
John Adams Middle School's winning mural, "Thank U for Not Drinking
and Driving"
(LOS ANGELES, June 3, 2011) – An eye-catching outdoor wall mural at John Adams Middle School, which conveys to students a stark message about the consequences of drinking and driving, took first place in the 2011 LAPD and Automobile Club of Southern California Traffic Safety Mural Competition. Student-artists who conceived and painted the winning mural will be honored next Tuesday at their school with a $1,000 check for their traffic safety efforts.
The winning mural depicts a pair of skeletons, driver and passenger, riding along a Los Angeles city street in a red truck headed toward a cemetery filled with headstones. The words, “Thank U for Not Drinking and Driving,” in block letters, are above a skyline dotted with buildings above the vehicle.
“The colorful mural is in a great location for students and their parents to quickly notice and understand the risks of drinking and driving,” according Rick Lalor, of the Auto Club’s Special Events program. “Students creatively painted a strong message that grabs classmates’ and teachers’ attention and reinforces the very serious risk-taking illustrated in the mural. It certainly grabbed the attention of the judges.”
LAPD West Traffic Division Officers and the Auto Club will present the check, plaque and certificates to the first-place students at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 7 at the middle school, 151 W. 30th St., Los Angeles, 90007 for raising traffic safety awareness among pre-teens in the 13th annual mural competition. The mural coordinator/instructor is Erick Altamirano. Principal Evelyn Wesley said 29 students created the large mural using donated supplies. Otis School of Art and Design’s Carolyn Boteilho judged all the submitted murals.
“John Adams Middle School students captured the risks for those who drive without regard to other motorists and the danger they pose to others while under the influence,” said LAPD Officer Joseph Taylor. “The mural conveys the ultimate consequence of drinking and driving. It serves as a stark testimony to their peers to not risk a DUI which is dangerous and against the law.”
The traffic safety art competition requires LAUSD middle school art students to design and paint a wall-size outdoor mural depicting traffic safety awareness affecting their classmates. The $500 second place winner was Leconte Middle School for its “Be Safe” mural and third place with $300 went to Virgil Middle School for its “Stop, Look, Listen – Crosswalk Safety” mural.