Dorm mural aims to build community
Competition winner plans to create an image that represents 'cohabitation' in 30 Mac, Bigelow and Wallace Halls
By: Katie Havranek
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
The Resident Hall Council chose the mural design, created by Tatiana Craine '11 to adorn the wall of 30 Mac. Craine will receive a fifty dollar prize as well as the chance to create a lasting piece of art to be painted before the end of the semester.
"This is a new tradition," Elicia Johnson '10, Resident Advisor for the Wallace basement explained, "Every year there is going to be new artwork."
The mural is part of Resident Life's initiative to foster community building in 30 BigWall. "I think it's definitely a positive ResLife program," Johnson said.
"I heard about the mural contest about a month ago from my RA," Craine said. The mural is called "Connection" and is meant to demonstrate the community within the 30 Mac, Bigelow, and Wallace community.
"I really tried not to discriminate against anyone's identities and ideas, and I thought that an ocean theme would be perfect for such a project." Craine wrote in her artist statement, "Things at Macalester are very fluid: personalities, workloads, sexualities, classes, activities, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, ideas."
The mural space is fifteen by six feet and will most likely be painted on wood with acrylic. The oceanic theme is meant to represent a "feeling of cohabitation and existence with each other in a large space," Craine explained, "Macalester students transcend country borders and live together in harmony akin to the life in the oceans which really are all interconnected."
There is a community involvement element planned. "Everyone will have a chance to write their name around the border of the picture," Johnson said. Residents of 30 BigWall will also be invited to paint the ocean by dance, sponge, finger, or splatter painting using a variety of colors for the background. Craine plans to then go back and paint details. Though there is no definitive date for this to occur, the event is tentatively scheduled for next week though it may not take place before next semester.
"This is a new tradition," Elicia Johnson '10, Resident Advisor for the Wallace basement explained, "Every year there is going to be new artwork."
The mural is part of Resident Life's initiative to foster community building in 30 BigWall. "I think it's definitely a positive ResLife program," Johnson said.
"I heard about the mural contest about a month ago from my RA," Craine said. The mural is called "Connection" and is meant to demonstrate the community within the 30 Mac, Bigelow, and Wallace community.
"I really tried not to discriminate against anyone's identities and ideas, and I thought that an ocean theme would be perfect for such a project." Craine wrote in her artist statement, "Things at Macalester are very fluid: personalities, workloads, sexualities, classes, activities, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, ideas."
The mural space is fifteen by six feet and will most likely be painted on wood with acrylic. The oceanic theme is meant to represent a "feeling of cohabitation and existence with each other in a large space," Craine explained, "Macalester students transcend country borders and live together in harmony akin to the life in the oceans which really are all interconnected."
There is a community involvement element planned. "Everyone will have a chance to write their name around the border of the picture," Johnson said. Residents of 30 BigWall will also be invited to paint the ocean by dance, sponge, finger, or splatter painting using a variety of colors for the background. Craine plans to then go back and paint details. Though there is no definitive date for this to occur, the event is tentatively scheduled for next week though it may not take place before next semester.
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