Children from the Sausalito-Marin City unified schools helped kick off the Tunnel Art Project on Saturday, June 4. They painted handprints from stencils on colorful banners that are being used to promote the art project symbolizing “All Our Children United.”

The dark and dirty tunnel under highway 101 that children must traverse on their way to the public schools has been a concern for over ten years. A Steering Committee engaged artist Raylene Gorum to prepare a mural design to enliven the tunnel. It will feature handprints of various sizes arrayed against a background of sunrise to sunset colors. Once the last details are finalized between Marin County and Caltrans (the tunnel owner), work on cleaning the wall and painting the mural is slated to begin by the end of summer.

Sausalito Beautiful has supported the project since its inception. Carolyn Revelle, SB Board member, is on the Steering Committee along with Felecia Gaston (Performing Stars of Marin), Sonja Hanson (Sausalito Foundation), Dr. Shirley Thornton (Arts+Bayside MLK Foundation), and Susan Shea, writer. Carolyn and Felicity Kirsch recruited volunteers from Sausalito Beautiful, Sausalito Village, and the Sausalito Woman’s Club to cut out the stencils of handprints the children made in art classes, led by Ellen Franz, for the June 4 kick off celebration.

More information can be found on the website, allourchildrenunited.com, including how to donate funds for project completion.