08-05-2025
Brand new murals bring color and healing to Amherst-Pelham and Summit Academy
AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – A pair of vibrant new murals now adorn the walls of Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and Summit Academy.
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The murals are part of the 'Imagined Worlds' project, which invites students to answer a simple but profound question: What would a world look like where you feel happy and safe? Through a collaborative, art therapy-informed process, students work together to design and paint murals that reflect their hopes, dreams, and visions of belonging.
Courtesy of Ray Brod Photography
'Imagined Worlds is not just about painting murals—it's about making space for young people to be seen, heard, and to imagine better futures for themselves and their communities,' said Sharon Leshner, mural designer and Artistic Director at The Color Collaborative. 'The art and the mental health work go hand in hand. The mural uplifts the mood and spirit of everyone who passes through.'
The completed murals at the two schools mark a key milestone in The Color Collaborative's newly launched '10×2030' campaign, an effort to bring the 'Imagined Worlds' initiative to 10 schools by the end of the decade. With three school projects now finished, the nonprofit is actively seeking additional school and funding partners to continue expanding the project regionally and beyond.
Courtesy of The Color Collaborative
Founded as a nonprofit public art organization, The Color Collaborative specializes in community-engaged murals that serve both aesthetic and emotional purposes. The organization partners with schools, municipalities, and nonprofits to use art as a means of transforming shared spaces and promoting wellness.
'I feel like it makes the school more welcoming—this is the pop of color that we needed. It shows that this is a place that supports creativity,' said student Emmett. Another student, Elijah, added, 'It makes me smile!'
The Amherst-Pelham and Summit murals were co-designed and painted by Leshner—also known by her artist moniker Sharona Color—and fellow artist Nellie Marshall-Torres, with the help of many students and community volunteers.
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