In the heart of Novato’s Hamilton community, a vibrant mural sits above a set of windows, now brightening the library walls at Hamilton Elementary School. This piece does more than decorate a wall; it reveals a story of progress, sustainability, and connection to the natural environment and to others. Painted by local artist Linsey Vera, known as “Miss Vera”, the mural took one month to complete and was the largest and most detailed piece she had completed to date. The piece was spearheaded by school librarian Beatriz Garcia De Gallegos and commissioned by Sunstall Inc. to promote education and environmental stewardship by planting seeds of inspiration in the minds of the young students.
Photograph of School Librarian Beatriz Garcia De Gallegos, standing outside of Hamilton Elementary’s library
“I want to have something in the library that can inspire the kids [firstly] to take care of our Mother Earth, and secondly, to dream big and become interested in science and engineering, (…) and especially encourage girls to be part of this field”, Garcia De Gallegos shared her motivations behind the project. She worked closely with Miss Vera to be sure she captured this idea while incorporating all of the important elements.
At first glance, the mural is a colorful celebration of nature and children. Upon a closer look, deeper messages unfold. “From what I see, it’s all about inclusion and equality between everyone, like, see how they are doing different tasks, working together?” eighth grader, Jesus, explains his interpretation of the mural as he nods to the painted figures.
In the foreground, three smiling children stand close together, each symbolizing a different facet of interests and cultural background. One cradles a bundle of freshly harvested vegetables, representing local food systems. Another wears a shirt with the text Solar Power with a beaming sun, referencing renewable energy. The third supports a stack of books about plants, clean energy, biology, and the history of California and the Miwok tribe, highlighting the importance of knowledge and cultural roots. Behind them are two more children with hard hats, huddling near solar panels and reviewing documents. They look like “construction workers”, Samantha, a third grader, describes.
Set against a lush green backdrop, the background features rolling farmland, grazing animals and Californian flora coexisting with solar panels and wind turbines. Samatha again, a lover of animals, expressed that she “was amazed” when she first saw the mural.
Fourth grader, Saul, said the mural is “really nice because it shows the green stuff, solar power, and farms. You can use solar panels to power [the farm] and shield the animals [from the sun].” “I feel like if there is a story [to the mural], it is Protect Nature because solar power is helping the environment by using electricity, so it’s teaching people to help the environment more.”
Solar array systems and farmlands are elements of a real-world concept called agrivoltaics, where renewable energy and agriculture come together on shared land in a mutually beneficial relationship. Examples of the dual use of agrivoltaic systems with photovoltaics (solar energy) include crop production, livestock grazing and pollinator habitats. These types of arrangements are particularly compelling because solar infrastructure provides microclimates to the surrounding environment. The shade generated from the panels allows for increased moisture retention for plants and serves as a reprieve for livestock during hot summer days. In turn, plants cool the solar panels, increasing their efficiency, and therefore, increasing their energy production. This mural shows that it is entirely possible to incorporate renewable energy and food production, alongside a healthy thriving ecosystem.
The attention to detail is what makes this art piece special. Each element is thoughtfully placed to spark joy, curiosity and empowerment. Beatriz Garcia De Gallegos hopes people have a connection with the mural as much as she does, “I had this idea for years and thanks to Helge, it became possible.” Helge Biernath, President and CEO of Sunstall Inc., explains his reason for funding the mural, “[We wanted it to] serve as inspiration for children to pursue knowledge while promoting social responsibility and climate awareness.” By blending natural landscapes with clean energy technology, it serves as a daily reminder that sustainable progress is possible and comes from collaboration across interests, fields and backgrounds. A green future includes interdisciplinary cohesion.
On sharing her initial thoughts about her involvement in the mural, Vera, the artist, was “happy this mural was going to be focused around the kids’ futures in renewable energy jobs. Anything that gets them thinking, whilst also enjoying the art is something I’m super excited to work on”.
Garcia De Gallegos, Vera and Biernath have plans to meet with the students in the fall for an in-depth talk and project relating the themes present in the mural. “Hamilton is really a special place and I hope to work more with the kids in the future” Vera stated.
Whether it’s a child who dreams of working with plants, animals, people, or in renewable energy, this mural invites every student to see themselves as part of an environmental stewardship narrative. So now, as students walk through their library this fall, surrounded by stories on the shelves and on the wall, the hope is that this mural will empower students. “What kind of future will you help build?”
You can find more work by Lynsey Vera on her website http://lynseyvera.com/ or follow her on Instagram at lynseyvera.