The Child Development Center, located at 702 E. Grand, has a fresh new look, thanks to the help of local artist, Red Dirt Rosie. The new mural on their building, facing Grand, shows off an array of different children following their dreams.

“We wanted an array of kids representing play, wonder and imagination,” said artist Red Dirt Rosie.

The concept of the mural was that every child deserves a dream. Red Dirt Rosie showed that through her artwork by displaying several children with their dreams, represented by stars, which the children are lifting into the sky. In some scenes you can even see some children sharing their dreams with the other kids.

Red Dirt Rosie has made it her goal as an artist to “leave it brighter than you found it.” This phrase can be understood in two ways. One being that she is literally making spaces brighter and more beautiful through her artwork, but the other, and the one she feels is the most important, is leaving people brighter than she found them.

In a past interview, Red Dirt Rosie said, “The value of creativity and a kind, encouraging world, can change someone’s world. My husband always tells me that I’m not just painting pretty pictures, but I’m painting people with encouragement. I think encouraging wonder encourages people to dream. Maybe that means being an entrepreneur, or being brave enough to pick up and dream that is dusty and almost forgotten and see it with new eyes. I think it also means looking at our normal day to day and seeing the wonder and beauty of those normal moments.”

She has stayed true to herself in both making the world a brighter place and encouraging people to follow their dreams in this newest mural. Within this she is showing that nothing is impossible for these children and all they have to do is reach for the stars.

The Child Development Center has been apart of Ponca City since 1967 and promotes the mindset that every child is unique and they grow at their own pace. They give the children enrolled in their center the opportunity for social, emotional, and physical growth before they are expected to go to school.

According to the Child Development Center’s website, “The mission of the Child Development Center is to provide affordable high quality pre-school childcare in a nurturing, secure environment. This program emphasizes life shills and school readiness through creative ‘hands and minds’ on learning experiences and development of language skills that encourage spiritual awareness, physical, emotional and social growth.”

Yet again, Red Dirt Rosie has knocked it out of the park on her newest mural. Right here in Ponca City, you can find numerous murals from the artist and she can often be found painting the windows of local businesses. To stay updated on Red Dirt Rosie’s newest creations, you can follow her Facebook at Red Dirt Rosie, LLC and for any information on if the Child Development Center is right for your child, you can call them at 580-765-7532.