Most people probably would have just walked by the blank, oversized whiteboard on the wall of the cafeteria at Catalyst Alternative High School.
But Catalyst student Logan Velasquez not only noticed it; he saw an ideal canvas, creating an enormous artwork filled with cartoons spanning the generations — involving the whole school in the process. By creating this colossal wall of communal art, Velasquez became Catalyst’s unofficial student artist-in-residence, bringing everyone together with memories of classic Disney and Warner Bros creations, or more modern cartoons like Disney’s popular “Phineas and Ferb” series.
“We created a name for it: ‘Your Childhood in One Spot,’” said Velasquez, a junior who plans to graduate a year early this spring.
The Project
Catalyst’s wonderful wall of cartoons sparked when Velasquez first sketched Rick, a spiky-haired scientist from the animated series “Rick and Morty.” More artwork soon followed as Velasquez obtained a green light from the Catalyst staff. He also received moral support and a couple of artistic additions from fellow students, including Izaiha Dearing, Madi Withee, Kaden Woodard, and Nick Hendrickson.
“Everybody in the school — there was a lot of support from everybody,” Velasquez said. “I’ve seen the Principal walk up and be surprised by all the cartoons he recognized.”
Not only did Catalyst Principal Chris Stevens enjoy the project and give it the go-ahead, he’s memorializing it, with plans to take a photo of Velasquez’s art wall and transform it into a poster.
But while so much of the project is Catalyst-inspired, one key concept of the piece comes from the artist’s household. Velasquez’s dad inspired his son to allow only three spots of color: the blazing scarlet fire alarm set into the wall, a deep orange carrot for Bugs Bunny, and the iconic purple trousers of Ferb. Each jolt of color stands out starkly on the black-and-white piece.
Yet, for Velasquez, the wall represents more than an exercise in artistic techniques: It stands for all that a person can achieve with only pen and paper (or a few Expo pens and a whiteboard).
“It opens up your mind to creativity,” Velasquez said. “It helps expand how you see the world. An empty wall isn’t just an empty wall.”
The Artist
What amazes the Catalyst staff is not only the art but Velasquez himself: his leadership, community-building, and intelligence.
“Logan is incredible!” said Jessica Abbott, Humanities Teacher at Catalyst High School. “He is a fantastic student who always finds ways to connect with ideas, content, and people. His art, thoughtfulness, and commitment to both others and the art are central to the Catalyst culture and community.”
Educational Assistant James Wen says Velasquez’s community commitment is beyond his years.
“His mural became greater because he sought input from everyone or just listened,” he said.
John Niebergall, the Fab Lab Instructor at Catalyst, noted that not only is Velasquez a leader and an artist but he is also gifted with tech.
“A great young man that takes control of his learning,” Niebergall said. “I needed our new 3-D printer set up and he jumped right in, got it up and running, and now is the go-to person to help troubleshoot any printing problems.”
With so many skills and abilities — art, tech, leadership — Niebergall couldn’t help but say: “The sky is the limit for Logan.”
He’s just the type of person who sees art, a blank canvas, where no one else does, and finds a way of getting everyone else to see it too and make it come to life.