On the 1000 block of Main Street, Manson Northwest Webster art teacher Theo Clark has painted large murals on an empty storefront to honor the senior class of MNW.

“Every year, I usually paint something on the windows,” Clark said. “Last year, I had kids help out during our May term.”

When Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds temporarily closed schools in March in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, Clark realized he would have to paint the murals without student help this year.

As the school closures were extended, he decided to dedicate the artwork to the MNW class of 2020, whose senior year had been derailed by circumstances beyond their control.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Manson Northwest Webster art teacher Theo Clark stands by the window murals he painted to honor the MNW class of 2020, who will not have the chance to finish their senior year in the classroom. The murals are on an empty storefront along Manson’s Main Street.

“It’s something to celebrate those kids,” he said. “They’ve just got so much ripped away from them — graduation, prom, senior trips.”

Clark had put about seven hours of work into the murals over several days in the past couple weeks. Using latex-based paint for its durability, he painted a large MNW cougar logo and the words “Class of 2020 Strong” in the district’s colors of orange and blue.

“They’ve kind of given me free reign on it year after year to keep painting, so I just thought that was a fun way to kind of lift the spirits,” he said. “We got the announcement that we weren’t going back the day that I finished it.”

Before he finished the artwork, Clark painted the names of every MNW senior – nearly 50 students in total.

“When people drive by, I hope they kind of tip their hats to the senior class,” he said. “They were an amazing bunch of kids. To think that they won’t get their graduation parties and all that stuff, it just stinks for all those kids in that class.”

When the senior class sees the murals, Clark hopes they feel that the last four years really meant something and helped shape them into the people they are now.

While schools are closed for the remainder of the school year, Clark is still staying in touch with his students, giving them ideas for art projects they can do at home.

“Design a CD cover, paint something for a family member, anything where they can get their minds be creative and just get out of the routine of video games,” he said. “I’m hoping kids are out there still creating, staying sharp.”