MARYSVILLE, CA. (MPG) – The Edward P. Duplex Continuation High School in Wheatland is a two-year-old institution dedicated to helping credit deficient students graduate. Pam Sullivan, an educator at the school, recently asked Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture if it would be able to support an arts education program at the school culminating in the creation of a new 40’ mural on one of its buildings.

“We had worked with Pam for many years on the annual Poetry Out Loud program when she was an English teacher at Wheatland High,” said David Read, YSAC Executive Director. “I knew we could put together a program that would be beneficial for the students and help create a sense of community pride as well,” he added.

YSAC has received several rounds of funding from the California Arts Council through its “Jump StArts” program to provide arts education for at risk and system engaged youth.  In the past, it has paid for arts educators in various fields from poetry to visual arts and from ceramics to African drum and dance, at several schools including Albert Powell, Feather River Academy and South Lindhurst High School.

Frequent YSAC collaborator and professional muralist, Madelyne Templeton, was hired to take the students through a guided process from the design phase up to and including the actual painting of the mural. She created classroom curriculum and took the students through a bit of art history from ancient rock wall painting to present day public art. YSAC invested over $6,000 in the project from the Jump StArts grant and is waiting to learn if it will receive the grant once again for the next school year.

The mural is an homage to the community, the natural beauty of the region, local history and the diversity of people that have come together to settle in Yuba County. Featured prominently is Mr. Duplex who was from New Haven, Connecticut and came to California in 1854 to join the gold rush. He developed a successful barber shop business and was elected mayor of Wheatland in 1888.

For more information about other 2021 programs during our 40^th anniversary year, contact Yuba Sutter Arts at 530-742-ARTS or email [email protected]