ENCINITAS — A series of mosaic art panels were unveiled Saturday at the El Portal undercrossing in Encinitas, marking the official launch of an art project spearheaded by local students and teachers.
The 17-panel mosaic project, which aims to tell the storied and colorful history of the city and its residents, was a collaborative effort between students from Paul Ecke Central Elementary School and San Dieguito Academy, nonprofit art studio Campana Studios and SDA art teacher Jeremy Wright.
“One of the things I absolutely love about a mosaic, it is so reflective of a community,” said Wright, addressing the dozens of people who turned up for the opening. “As I look at all of you here, we’re all different shapes and sizes, handmade, broken and found objects, and yet we all come together to make a beautiful picture — it is so symbolic of a community.”


Officials from the City of Encinitas, including Mayor Tony Kranz and Deputy Mayor Allision Blackwell, were also in attendance.
The pedestrian undercrossing, completed in 2022, has become a vital pathway for the community, especially for the estimated 120 students who use it daily to travel to and from school.
As part of the project, Paul Ecke Elementary students played a significant role in developing the mosaic designs’ concepts. Their contributions included gathering materials used in the panels. Each student’s thumbprint is embedded in the artwork, adding a personal touch to the installation.
“One thing you’re going to see is, not only are they a part of the theme and the design, there are thumbprints that the students left behind,” said Paul Ecke Central Elementary School Principal Wesley Sechrest, addressing the crowd. “So, this is a legacy project that our kids are going to be able to come back to and say, ‘I was a decision maker on this; I had my thumb printed there.’”