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![]() Liberal Arts MuralCreated to Celebrate Liberal Arts Educations Paint 3 | ![]() Liberal Arts MuralCreated to Celebrate Liberal Arts Educations Paint 3 | ![]() Safe HavenSafe Haven After School Program Tuskegee Alabama. This national program provides a safe place for children to to continue to grow and learn together after school. Independent Study Group |
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![]() Sammy Younge MuralSammy Younge was the first youth killed in the civil rights movement. He was shot after using a whites only bathroom in the city of Tuskegee. At the time he was a veteran who was attending school at Tuskegee Institute. The mural was gifted to the city of Tuskegee through Safe Haven after school program. This project was a part of a Social Engagement class co-taught by MacArthur Fellow Rick Lowe. | ![]() Boys and Girls Club Lounge MuralPainting 2 students spent a semester providing art classes to youths at the Boys and Girls Club of Opelika. Once a relationship was fostered the youths asked what imagery they would like to see in their lounge and game area. The results set the basis for this design. Painting 2 | ![]() Boys and Girls Club MuralUsing childhood portraits of famous alumni of the Boys and Girls Program as the base imagery, this mural was placed in the gymnasium of the club in Opelika Alabama. Created in Painting 3. |
![]() Zora Neale Hurston AnniversaryPainted to celebrate the life of this historic figure who lived part of her life in Notasulga, Al. University students worked with high school students of the area to paint their vision of her. Final mural was placed in the High School Gym. | ![]() Zora Neale Hurston AnniversaryPainted to celebrate the life of this historic figure who lived part of her life in Notasulga, Al. University students worked with high school students of the area to paint their vision of her. Final mural was placed in the High School Gym. | ![]() Zora Neale Hurston AnniversaryPainted to celebrate the life of this historic figure who lived part of her life in Notasulga, Al. University students worked with high school students of the area to paint their vision of her. Final mural was placed in the High School Gym. |
![]() Small World Big PictureThis project traveling to Faial Azores will be part of The Small World Big Picture Project organized by artist Kim Howard. Paint 1 | ![]() Small World Big Picture DetailThis project traveling to Faial Azores will be part of The Small World Big Picture Project organized by artist Kim Howard. Paint 1 | ![]() Pet Vet MuralCreated for a local veterinarian. Painting 2 |
![]() Pet Vet MuralCreated for a local veterinarian. Painting 2 | ![]() Shopping Center MuralPainting 1 | ![]() Auburn vs AlabamaCreated for a local cereal deli. Paint 1 |
![]() Auburn vs AlabamaCreated for a local cereal deli. Paint 1 | ![]() Sammy Younge MuralSocial And Community Engaged Class in front of Sammy Younge mural. |
I have increasingly become interested in fostering broader relationships students have to their art practice and the world around them. Young artists need to realize early in their career that they can engage methods of social engagement and outreach in their creative work. Although these methods can involve complicated community interactions that are not often easily identified as art by the communities that are targeted, they can also take more traditional approaches as well. Community murals are a great place to engage this method of work and get young artists to think about how they can make artwork that can affect their local communities. On this page are several murals created in my painting classes and given as gifts to the local community. Before a mural is started the students interact with the people the painting is intended for. As opposed to just “plopping and dropping”, they ask the community what they would like to see or do Activities that can foster a shared experience which are focused on community needs are ideal. In the studio the subject matter is refined based on those interactions. This is done with the goal of enriching both the communities and the student’s appreciation for the powerful roles they can play in the world.
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