Girl Scout paints mural to celebrate music, honor life of Jan Greisch

Elizabeth Duncan wants to spread the message that “Music is all around; it is in our lives. No matter if you’re good at it or not, you can still enjoy it.”

That’s why the multi-talented Girl Scout chose to paint a mural in the Page Middle School music room as her Gold Award project.

The mural was unveiled July 7 at a reception in the music room.

Duncan, 16, spent 80 hours over the past several months sketching out ideas, developing a game plan and creating her original work for future generations to enjoy.

The mural was Duncan’s project as a senior Girl Scout to earn her final achievement and a Gold Award, the organization’s top honor.

“I really like music and I really like art, and I am pretty good at it so I decided I might as well do something I am good at,” she said.

The project had to be community oriented, and last for some time, so she said she chose to focus on retention in music for middle school students. That’s the age at which most students give up or drop out of music programs.

Once her decision was made, Duncan proposed the idea during an interview with the Girl Scout board in November.

Her project was approved and she started work Feb. 28, beginning the meticulous process of turning a roughly textured wall into a tapestry for her vision.

“I drew most of it on freehand at first,” Duncan said. “I took a lot of ideas from friends and other people about what it should be like.”

Boston’s True Value hardware store donated paint and supplies, and the staff of the school and other community members were very instrumental in her successful completion of the project, Duncan said.

The biggest difficulty she faced was that after the application of the clear coat much of the paint began to bubble and had to be reapplied.

“Me and my mom came back in and redid almost half of it,” she said.

Duncan said that the mural is dedicated to the memory of Jan Greisch, a long-time advocate of music programs in Page and personal inspiration for her to pursue music further. Greisch died Jan. 18. Duncan created a hand-made plaque to go along with the mural in honor of her.

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