Willow Glen Resident

Community

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Primitive Neighborhood: John DeWhitt painted a huge mural on the education building that is used for children's Sunday school classes at Westminster Presbyterian Church for his Eagle Scout project. He asked Celeste Robinson to sketch the design.

Willow Glen High School senior paints mural, lights up a wall

By Mary Gottschalk

When it came time for John DeWhitt's Eagle Scout project, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do.

However, he was sure he did not want something boring.

"I've grown up in that troop, and my whole life the Eagles always did some really boring project like building a retaining wall," says the 17-year-old Willow Glen resident, who has been a member of Los Gatos Troop 539 since the age of 10.

Using his criteria, "What would be easy to do, really noticeable and help the community?", John focused on his church, Westminster Presbyterian Church on the corner of Shasta Avenue and The Alameda.

More specifically, John focused on the educational building facing Shasta, behind the church.

"It was pretty boring-looking, and I said, 'Let's do a mural,' " says John, a senior at Willow Glen High School.

In late summer, John supervised 15 younger scouts from his troop as well as more than 25 adults over a two-day period as they worked on taking the mural from a sketch to reality.

Now the second floor of the building is painted with a primitive-style neighborhood scene in bright colors.

Once he decided on a mural, John quickly learned there was a lot to do between concept and fruition.

For starters, he needed to get his project approved by the Eagle Council and also by Westminster's ruling body of church elders.

John's first proposal was turned down by the council because it was too vague.

The second time around, his proposal was accepted.

John then approached Deneice Fuji, youth pastor for the church, and Celeste Robinson, an accomplished artist who teaches art classes for children and adults at the church.

"John called and asked if I could help him create a mural scene," Robinson says.

"I worked up a neighborhood scene design and a color palette that wouldn't be overwhelming."

Again, John had to make a presentation to church elders, and again it wasn't a sure thing.

"They almost didn't pass it," John recalls. "They said, 'If we don't like it, we're going to paint over it.' "

Then there was cost.

"My original planning budget was $460," John says. "When I presented it to the elders, they said they would cover it, but they would appreciate it if we could keep the cost down as much as possible."

That suggestion got John thinking.

"My goal was to be as resourceful as possible. Instead of going out and buying paintbrushes, I asked people to bring their own," he says.

"We came in about $100 under budget, and half the cost was feeding the volunteers pizza."

In the two days before the weekend project was scheduled, Robinson says, "I spent a day and a half sketching it out on the wall. Everybody came on Saturday and painted. It was mostly the scouts, dads and moms, and after church on Sunday, we got together with church members to finish the painting."

Robinson says she was impressed with John's work.

"I was there for support and to answer questions about color, but John ran everything."

John admits he impressed himself as well.

Scouting has been an integral part of John's life since he joined Cub Scouts in kindergarten. When he was juggling scouting, school and football at Willow Glen High School, he realized something had to go and he dropped football.

"People love it," says John with a smile. "They say they like it, and it makes the atmosphere more positive and happy."