Although Cara Miley and Emma Kick graduated from Valley Regional High School (VRHS) earlier this year, the two students have made a lasting mark in Essex. Their outdoor murals are now displayed on the exterior building of the Essex Indoor Golf Center at 23 Saybrook Road.

“I can’t even tell you how blown away I was when we saw the final products,” said Cheryl Harger, who owns the recreational golfing spot with husband Scott Harger. “They were way more than I ever anticipated. Just so amazing. Just so talented.”

Miley and Kick completed the murals as their year-long capstone projects. These projects are a state requirement of all graduating seniors in Connecticut that aims to exemplify most, if not all, of the skills acquired from their secondary education in the Region 4 school system.

Harger said that VRHS art teacher Maryann Donagher took the lead on coordinating with the students on the various steps required to complete the project.

“She was all for it and said, ‘I think this is awesome,’” said Harger, adding that her only requirement for the project was that the murals depict something related to Essex.

“I just wanted it to be a cool piece of art that people would like to come and see,” said Harger.

As part of the design process, Donagher said that she asked the students what, to them, represented community.

“So, they came up with the Essex [Groundhog] Day Parade, which is a big deal in downtown Essex every year,” said Donagher. “Everybody gets together, which is a silly thing, but it’s just a big deal for the Essex community that they get excited about.

“And then, of course, the [Essex] Steam Train…every weekend you see the crowds and the people and the train. It just reeks of community, with everybody getting together, having fun,” she continued.

Kick painted the mural of the Essex Steam Train while Miley painted the mural of the Groundhog Day Parade.

“They were both really into art while they were here,” said Donagher. “They had probably both taken all of my classes.”

The design process, which took place remotely during the 2020–’21 school year, included initial renderings on paper and then painting a 3’ x 6’ wooden panel that would allow the artists to plan for the final pieces, 9’ x 4’ wood panels that are affixed to the building.

“We had specific measurements we had to fulfill because they were being posted on the front of the golf place,” said Donagher.

The recreational golfing center, which offers virtual, simulated golf for beginners to professionals and mini golf for kids and families, opened in 2020 as state-wide COVID-19 restrictions were lifted for the sector.

“So, it worked out perfectly,” said Harger. “Summer is always slow for any type of this kind of business because golfers prefer to golf outside, which we get.

“But the rainy days that we had last summer, we were busy, so we were like, ‘Okay, that’s good’ and then the winter came last December and it just took off like a hockey stick,” she continued.

As Harger prepares for what she said will be a busy season of indoor golfing, she adds that the business would like to fill the building’s exterior space with additional student artwork.

“We’re hoping to get a couple more” murals, said Harger. “There is definitely space on the wall for a few more.”