The D.P Culp Student Center is welcoming a new mural from ETSU’s art in public spaces class. Located in the Culp Center’s Cave, the mural is a work in progress that will feature an Appalachian landscape from corner to corner of the canvas wall.
ETSU’s art in public spaces class is centered around creating murals and creative pieces that can be enjoyed by all of the general public. This project is tailored to the curriculum of the course; allowing students to create a mural for their own student center creates a feeling of belonging and expression to campus.
For students, creating a mural places them more in touch with creating a cohesive project centered around the importance of drawing community into the process of creating art.
The mural began construction in early November and is expected to continue through the remaining Fall 2022 semester. Culp Center workers removed televisions cables and seating areas to welcome the new mural. Beginning with a thick yellow coat of paint as the background of the mural, students have already begun detailing the intricate features of Appalachia’s largest asset: the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Each class period for Professor Vanessa Mayoraz’s students entails another advancement on the mural and demonstrates a journey of creative expression.
Collaborating to create a vibrant mural that demonstrates the Blue Ridge Mountains is evident in the ETSU Art and Design mission statement. The department “inclusively prepares individuals to become creative and critically engaged professionals who successfully contribute to the visual and social culture of the Appalachian region and beyond.”
With the new introduction of this project, students are creatively bringing Appalachian culture into a space shared by all students at ETSU. The Blue Ridge Mountains are a prevalent staple in Appalachian culture, and Art and Design students are learning to incorporate community on visual appeal.
