Ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston transformed their headquarters into a canvas for patriotism and community.
Working alongside Houston artist Kimmie Gillespie, the students created “We, The Kids,” a 300-foot-by-50-foot painted American flag mural that celebrates the ideals of the Declaration of Independence while encouraging young people to reflect on citizenship, service and civic engagement.
The mural, painted with eco-friendly, non-toxic tempera paint, also gave each participant the opportunity to sign a commemorative scroll recognizing their role in the collaborative artwork.
Houston Chronicle staff photographer Brett Coomer documented the creativity, teamwork and pride on display as the young artists helped bring the massive installation to life.