Madison Reporter

Middleton High School students recently collaborated with alum Natalie Hinahara to work on a mural at Bauman Community Pool. The group, which included Maddy McMahon, Alexander Byrd, Sam Curry, and Elise Deiite, became involved after learning about a character design competition held at their school.

Alexander Byrd said, “As I mostly focus my art on cartoons and character drawings, I felt like I had a chance in it.” Maddy McMahon added, “I submitted a drawing without really knowing what to expect, but I was surprised and excited when my design was chosen.”

Although the students’ original designs were not used for the final mural, they contributed to the early painting stages. McMahon explained her role: “My role focused on primarily filling in colors and helping lay down the foundation for the final details to be built on.”

Sam Curry reflected on seeing the project develop: “My favorite part about contributing to the mural was seeing it all come together as more color and more details were added. I was able to see where the final product was going, and it makes me even more excited to see the finished mural when the pool opens next summer.”

The students noted that working with professional artist Hinahara provided valuable insight into art careers. Curry stated, “Before going into the first day of painting the mural, I was intimidated to work with a professional artist, but it turned out to be a fun and relaxing experience. There weren’t any expectations for us to be perfect at painting. All of the volunteers worked in different mediums, so it was very low-stakes and relaxing. Plus, we were able to get insight about art school and art careers from a professional.” Elise Deitte commented further: “I really enjoyed it! It was interesting seeing what a career in art could look like. Natalie was so nice and amazing to work with!”

Byrd shared his feelings about contributing something lasting for Middleton: “I don’t know whether it’s cheesy or narcissistic to say, but I’ve always wanted to make something bigger than me, something people will actually see. Hopefully, I can do more stuff than just this, but it’s still a great start toward that goal.” McMahon agreed: “I feel lucky to have helped create something that will be a part of our community for such a long time. It means a lot to me that people will get to see and enjoy the mural when they're at the pool, and that I had a hand in making that possible.”

The new mural is expected to be completed in time for visitors during the 2026 pool season. Deitte expressed her anticipation: “I can't even express how excited I am to be able to see this mural complete next summer. I love art and I love art that brings positive change to the community. Murals always catch my eye when I pass by them; they make a place feel more like home. I can't wait to see that something I helped with become an important memory for so many kids! I really hope this mural is appreciated for the hard work put into it, and that it lasts a long long time to come.”

WMTV 15 News has additional coverage of Hinahara's work on this project.

Photo credit: City of Middleton