Graffiti for Good at Clearway High School

Cecilia Ulibarri and Manny Ramirez are waiting for students to arrive, skillfully carving designs out of paper with X-Acto knives to expedite the final phase of a seven-week mural project at Clearway Alternative High School.

Canisters of Mod Podge have been assembled and the contents waiting to be slathered by a dozen paintbrushes across two 4-by-8-foot panels, a graduation project meant to put into words what motivates and inspires these students, at Nashua's alternative high school.

"Clearway was looking for someone to run a workshop for one of their fine-arts elective courses. We've been talking with them about urban art and how to recreate designs on canvas, using collage," said Ulibarri of Positive Street Art, a non-profit community art education organization.

The students, who range in age from 15 to 19, showed a lot of creativity in the process, Ulibarri said.

"We're really impressed with the outcome of their work," said Ulibarri, who worked alongside Ramirez and Clearway art teacher Jessica Frederick, to help channel the students' collective creativity into the companion mural pieces. The finished product will be on display during graduation, and used throughout the coming school year to highlight the art program.

Clearway Alternative High School is a Nashua district high school which accepts students ages 14-20 from sending schools within the Greater Nashua area by referral, including those students for whom traditional public school settings are deemed ineffective. The school's philosophy since its founding in 1977 remains the same, according to the school's web site:

"If students are able to demonstrate competence, their feelings of self-worth and potential for leading productive and successful lives will increase. Ways of achieving this end will vary, but our belief is that teenagers can achieve personal and academic success is reflected in everything Clearway offers."