BPS Kindergartener Kicks Off BCEF's 2025-26 Art on Main

The artwork has been installed for public viewing on the side of the Simons Company building on Main Street.

L to R: BCEF board member Jama Linkel-Cleghorn, BPS Interim Dean of Students Berni Essick, BPS kindergarten teacher Sarah Massey, artist Kyra Hernandez, BPS Principal Brad Stoneking, and BCEF board member Ryan Holcomb celebrate the new BPS artwork installed in downtown Batesville as part of BCEF’s Art on Main program. Photo provided.

(Batesville, Ind.) - The first mural in the Batesville Community Education Foundation’s (BCEF) 2025-26 Art on Main student art program in downtown Batesville has been installed for public viewing on the side of the Simons Company building on Main Street.

The mural, drawn by Batesville Primary School (BPS) kindergartner Kyra Hernandez, depicts faces with varying emotions, reflecting this year’s theme of “Weathering Emotions.” All BPS students received an artwork submission form inviting them to participate, and the winning piece was selected from all entries by members of a BCEF committee.

“Our large-scale projects over the last few years have focused on student mental health,” explained BCEF board president Ryan Holcomb, who also serves as one of the Art on Main program coordinators. “The outdoor learning complex at BPS encourages teachers to take their classwork outdoors to improve students’ emotional outlook as well as their academic performance. Our new Student Success Center at Batesville High School will officially open soon, offering a biofeedback program, privacy pods, and an outdoor wellness patio. Therefore, we wanted to tie the mental health efforts into this year’s theme, and we think Kyra did an amazing job showing emotions. She told us that she likes her mural because it shows both happy and sad.”

BCEF’s Art on Main program highlights artwork from students from the four Batesville Community School Corporation school buildings on a rotating basis. A special thank you from BCEF is extended to Jimmy Rowland of Rowland Graphics, who donates his company’s time to install every mural, and Nick Maple, owner of the building, who provides the use of his location for the display. In addition, the foundation appreciates the staff at BPS for its ongoing support. BCEF board members Jama Linkel-Cleghorn and Ryan Holcomb are volunteer coordinators of the program. The BPS mural will be on display until later this year, when Batesville Intermediate School artwork will take its place.