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# Mural, mural on the wall
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/mural-mural-on-the-wall/
- Published: 2004-02-13T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:47:05.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

What started as an idea to paint two Greek columns on the wall surrounding the library doors at Lincoln Middle School grew to become a mural of the Lincoln Memorial.

A local muralist and architect, David Legaspi, has completed a mural of ancient Greece, the Lincoln Memorial and modern Washington, D.C., at Lincoln Middle School in time for Thursday’s celebration of Lincoln’s birthday.

Over the past year, Legaspi has donated his art to create a distinct educational mural in each Santa Monica and Malibu elementary school, at his cost, officials said.

Two short weeks ago, Legaspi answered a call to come to Lincoln Middle School to look at the small project conceived by parent volunteers who support literacy projects school-wide. After a brainstorming session with Legaspi, assistant principal Carl Hobkirk; librarian Marie Claire Kelin; literacy co-chairperson Teri Zakzook, and Lincoln PTSA President Alyssa Tennenbaum, the concept grew to become the newest educational mural at Lincoln Middle School, called “The Gallery of Learning.”

Lincoln Principal Hank Harris, and Hobkirk, have embraced the project, with unanimous Lincoln staff approval.

“The staff at Lincoln wholeheartedly and enthusiastically endorsed the mural project,” Harris said. “The concept and the rendering were presented to a chorus of ‘wows.’”

Legaspi was inspired by the concept of a learning gallery that stretches more than 300 feet on each side of the hall outside the Lincoln library — depicting ancient Greek architecture, complete with marble doors etched with words of wisdom, to be chosen from a school-wide student competition culminating this May, to the architecture of the Lincoln Memorial.

“David created a monument within the halls of Lincoln, where students are surrounded by art, architecture, history and language,” Hobkirk said.

Legaspi juggled his busy schedule in time to commemorate Lincoln’s birthday with the mural.

“This mural is an experience in time travel through art,” he said. “The project has expanded to include historical elements from Ancient Greece, the Civil War and modern Washington D.C.”

Despite the tight time frame, parent volunteers in less than a week raised the funds for the mural, which covers only a portion of the materials. And through the support of the Blessington family, as well as Legaspi, the scope of the mural grew to 10 times the size of the original concept. Since the project began, Legaspi has worked on the mural every evening and 15-hour days over the weekends.

A year and a half ago Legaspi put a hold on his architectural practice to devote himself full time to painting significant educational murals with student artists at each elementary school in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District.

“I do these murals to make a visual statement of the importance of arts to school children,” he said. “Money isn’t the only thing our schools need.”

Legaspi also has completed a mural for the state PTA offices in downtown Los Angeles as part of its “Bring Back the Arts to Schools” campaign, as well as completing murals at Malibu High School and the kelp forest mural in the Lincoln Middle School courtyard. He plans to volunteer for a second consecutive year to paint with school children at the SMMUSD Arts Festival fundraiser, as well as numerous projects in school districts outside of Santa Monica and Malibu.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 13, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/021304.pdf?ref=smdp.com)