Save The Warrior Painting in The S.H.S. Gymnasium

The profile of the warrior on the gymnasium wall at our high school has been there for over a quarter of a century. It is part of many yearbook photos, memories and personal photos of competitions in that gym. The artwork is hand painted (not a decal) and links our town history with that of the Wampanoag Native Americans that helped to establish Seekonk.

The gymnasium will be undergoing renovation this summer and per the Superintendent of Schools in Seekonk, the walls will be repainted, and the painting of the warrior will be painted over. To try to change her mind, I met with Ms. Kidwell, but it seemed the decision had been made. The artist has been notified that the painting CANNOT be taped off, to be painted around, as it has been so many times in the past 25 years. Why not? The artwork is not peeling, has held up well over the years and should be preserved. What painting contractor cannot tape off things that should not be painted over or destroyed?

And no, the mascot name of our high school is not changing, we will remain the Seekonk Warriors.

Norman Bowlin is the artist and my father.

This work of art was painted by him in ONE day, on a Sunday, and he did not receive any payment for the work, he just chose to paint the warrior showing the pride he has in our town and in our school. He started painting it early in the morning and painted it so late into the night that our Mom thought he may have fallen off the staging setup on the bleachers.

Dad is a lifelong resident of Seekonk and was very heavily involved in SHS sports. He was the SHS girls’ softball coach for over 18 years, a member of the “sideline chain gang” for Warrior football games for almost 2 decades and was inducted into the SHS Sports hall of fame a few years ago.

As a daughter, proud of her father, I am hoping to preserve his artwork of the warrior, to pass on his legacy for the love of art, the love for the school and his love for this town.

S.H.S. Class of 1978
Robin (Bowlin) Chlebek