Students from Harrison Middle School are working with Matt Bell, of Explore Harrison, to create QR codes for the murals in Downtown Harrison. Over the years various artists have painted murals on the sides of buildings. The murals tell stories relating to Harrison history.
“We are very excited to be working with these students. Our murals bring a unique perspective to our downtown and people are always wanting additional information about them. This information will be a practical asset to our community and our guests,” Explore Harrison Executive Director, Matt Bell said.
For example, one wall depicts Brandon Burlsworth, who was known for his grit and determination in football and life, that led him to succeeding in securing a spot on the Arkansas Razorbacks as a walk-on.
After his successful time at U of A, he secured a place in the NFL but was tragically killed in an auto accident before the season started. The murals actually began with an EAST class project in the past led by Marybeth Hatch.
Students and Bell felt that visitors to the murals needed a way to access more information about
the murals. These EAST students are participating in the process of creating the QR code, getting the codes on plaques that will be weather proof, and hung by each mural. The QR codes will take visitors to Explore Harrison's website where they can get more information about all the murals and Downtown Harrison.
Bell, through Explore Harrison, provided access to the QR code maker, connections to
patrons who could make the plaques, the work already done on the website, and all the funding needed to make the project happen.
Phase 2 (2026-2027 school year) will include videos of the artist (who can be located) created by these EAST students telling the artists’ story behind the painting of the murals. The students working on this project this school year and next are: Katelyn, Jemma, and Natalie. This project was started in the fall of 2025 and will continue through the next school year (and possibly beyond that if necessary).
This project fills CART (Critical Thinking; Advance, Real, Teamwork) because students used critical thinking to decide how to solve the problem and who they needed to contact. The project advanced the students through use of the technology (QR code maker, use of the website) and pushed them out of their comfort zone to speak and work with grown ups outside of their school or home realms. This is a real project that will help real visitors to the murals to gain more information about the murals. Their team has worked closely with Bell and Explore Harrison.
These girls are excited to see what the future holds for their project and their partnership with Bell and Explore Harrison. They are eager to meet some of the artists behind the paintings and help them to tell their stories. The visitors to the murals will be enriched because of this project and these partnerships.
Thank you to EAST Facilitator, Tammy Beardsley at Harrison Middle School.