Carlsbad Art and Culture

On January 2 and 3, Kids for Peace and the Carlsbad Art Wall began 2021 with a new mural on the local rotating art wall. This is the 27th mural painted on the east facing wall of Señor Grubby’s in the Carlsbad Village.

As we all know, 2020 was a difficult year. We don’t need to be reminded of the details. As the 2021 kicks into gear, we look forward to a new beginning, a new year and many days of kindness, positivity and unity.

These are the wishes that fueled the creative development of the Village’s newest mural. The theme of the colorful art is a long-standing message that Kids for Peace, a local Carlsbad nonprofit, has been teaching our community for 14 years led by Jill McManigal, Co-Founder & Executive Director.

A swirling sky of animated energy encircles the earth. Upon the colorfully panted globe are silhouettes of children bound by a positive-thought chain which reaches as fas as the eye can see.

Through McManigal’s passion and drive, Kids for Peace has also brought the non-profit’s annual Great Kindness Challenge to the streets of our community.

Although the non-profit’s headquarters is in Carlsbad, there are chapters in all 50 U.S. States and 121 countries. Kids from around the world participated in the 2021 challenge by sending paper links of kindness with their personalized message to Carlsbad. The entire collection of messages will be strung together with the goal of breaking a world record for the longest linked message.

Carlsbad artist Andrea Team led the creative bringing McManigal’s vision to life. In addition to designing and painting the mural, Team facilitated a weekend of community participation.

Local kids safely added their wishes to the wall as a way to share their desires for a better world. Messages included being healthy, kind and keeping the ocean clean.

While maintaining social distancing, families associated with Kids for Peace showed up all throughout each day excited to add their message to wall and participate in another Great Kindness Challenge.

Smiles and positivity spread quickly and laughter echoed though the streets as the sun shined bright within the cloudless blue sky.

Passersby marveled at the colorful mural and became inspired as they watched each kid interact share their thoughts.

2020 has come and gone; the new year is upon us. We can’t control everything, but we can control how we treat others. The next time you are at a crossroads, we hope you remember the message of this mural; we hope you embrace kindness, positivity and unity—the path we choose will shape the new year.