By JASMINE GOMEZ

Two Bronx parks will be the temporary homes of a pair of murals painted by middle-schoolers at two respective schools in the borough.

The images painted on school lunch tables depict critical social issues students believe are currently affecting their communities.

The students at New Venture Academy 219X in Crotona Park addressed gun violence, while students at the New School for Leadership and Art 244X in Kingsbridge tackled bullying. The artwork on gun violence will be on display at Crotona Park by Crotona Avenue, while the mural on bullying will be displayed at Old Fort Four Park by West 231st Street in Kingsbridge.

“What we wanted people to take out of our table was how people can stop and prevent gun violence, not only in America but throughout the whole world. We want everyone to know it’s hurting people and we want it to stop throughout our communities and make it a better place,” said Mouhamed Toure,12, a middle schooler at New Venture Academy 219X.

The student’s topics reflect what’s on their mind. Gun violence has indeed been rampant in the last few weeks, with Mayor de Blasio himself noting a significant increase of shootings in the 44th and 52nd precincts.

The murals were crafted as part of the Learning through an Expanded Art Program’s (LeAp) Public Arts initiative. The program works with ten schools across the city, with teaching artists assisting students in creating artwork that explores a social issue students ultimately convey in their work. Eight other murals sponsored by LeAp are on display at eight parks across the city. They focus on different topics that include gay rights and child neglect. The collection of artworks represent the largest student exhibition at New York City parks.

The lunch tables were utilized as the canvas for the murals, a symbolic gesture since kids are often more relaxed and talkative during lunch time, exchanging ideas, according to Alexandra Leff, creator and director of LeAp’s Public Art Program. “To bring that table into the park is a symbolic way of bringing the students’ voices and messages to the public,” she added.

LeAp’s Public Art program is a non-profit organization that uses art to teach academics while encouraging students to share their voice with their communities.

“Kids are part of our community. They experience everything that adults do. They just don’t have that voice,” said Leff. “Adults can vote, and adults are the ones making decisions, but kids are affected too. So the idea of the program is to respect the young people, who are our future. To see what they have to say and to give them a public forum with the parks is amazing.”

By participating in the program, students had the opportunity to meet with famous guest artists, learn about the history of public art and it’s power and effect on people, and engage in social action by creating the mural. It’s larger goal creates a sense of team-building, collaboration, peer leadership, social skills, and art technique.

“I experienced a lot, not only in myself. What I experienced is that art is not only something that you can draw, but it’s something that you can express yourself and you can share what you feel and how you feel inside,” said Mouhamed of the program.

Wynta Carter, 14, a student at the New School for Leadership and Art 244X, hopes to see the program implemented in her school “because then people can be aware and they can be inspired to help others.”

After the artworks finish their runs at the park, they will be returned to the schools, where they will likely end up on display.

Schools interested in more information about LeAp’s Public Art program can contact LeAp at (212) 769-4160.