Holmes art teacher creates painting for district office

One of Community Consolidated School District 21’s own educators is being honored in a meaningful and creative way–through the display of his artwork at the district office.

Steve Hamann, the dedicated art teacher at Holmes Middle School, recently completed an original painting that will now be permanently showcased in the waiting area of the district’s administrative offices.

“Each day in District 21, there is an incredible amount of positivity and learning happening, and I wanted to show that activity,” Hamann said. “I wanted to show students demonstrating their knowledge in different ways. I wanted to show growth. The kids in the back are younger, the kids in the front are older. I wanted to show the connection of District 21 to our community. I wanted to show ‘school.’”

The idea for the painting came from Cassandra Young, the director of communications and community engagement, who was looking for ways to display some original art in the new district office.

“The piece reflects the creativity and spirit of our school community, serving as an inspiring welcome for students, staff, parents and other visitors,” Young said.

Hamann mentioned that the creative process began in July 2024, almost immediately after district administrators selected his idea. He had the basic idea for the composition, and refined it through several sketches, before translating it to the four-foot-by-six-foot canvas.

“I rarely work this big, and this detailed,” Hamann said. “[The canvas] wouldn’t fit in my normal studio space, so I had to dig out a space in our basement storage area to work on it. I tried to paint a couple hours a night during the week, and about 12 hours on the weekend.”

By the end of the process, Hamann estimates he spent about 575 hours on the overall project: “It is probably the most challenging painting I have ever completed.”

The painting, which features a number of “hidden gems,” was officially unveiled during the March 20 meeting of the Board of Education meeting.

Once it is on display, Hamann hopes visitors will pause and fully appreciate the depth and scale of his vision.

“I hope they look at it for more than a second,” he added. “I hope they feel a bit of happiness, I hope it makes them remember their own positive experiences in school. I hope they see how District 21 makes an impact.”