ACC Mural Collaboration Project
This spring, our students experienced the power of community art firsthand through two vibrant mural projects that transformed local spaces and brought people together. The first was a project undertaken by the Studio Art Capstone class, which included Tristan Dunning, Sophia Flores, Carissa Geraud, Nathan Klein, Eun Mi Lam, Lena LeBlanc, Max McMann, Jordan Stuart, and Tami Tamayo. These students began by writing detailed proposals for their mural designs, with the winning idea—crafted by Carissa Geraud—selected after a thorough review process. Using Photoshop, they visualized how their design would look in the actual location, carefully planning from the farthest trees to the closest wall segments. The students divided the wall into sections, coordinated their efforts, and worked efficiently, covering the entire surface from back to front. After presenting their plans to the team from the Child Development Center (CDC), they received feedback, and the CDC voted on their preferred design. Once approved, the students transformed their digital mockup into a colorful reality, painting the mural in a single afternoon. The entire process showcased their talent, organization, and dedication, culminating in a striking new feature for the CDC.
Meanwhile, students from the Drawing 2 class made a remarkable impact at Aspen Grove. Participants included Dylan Anderson, Paula Andes, Addie Calderwood, Shea Davis, Stearling Elia, Mar Fenner, Sophia Flores, Amber Gallego, Grey Hughes, Sam Johnson, Orvest Law, Emily Lebov, Cameron London, Kemper McKenzie, Allie Smith, FuMei Sorteberg, Heather Sprague, Jordan Stuart, and Sara Torres. These students designed large-scale murals that reflected their unique visions. They presented their concepts to the Aspen Grove team, and from these, the class narrowed their choices to a top five. These designs were then showcased on the Aspen Grove website, where the community could cast votes for their favorite. The winning design, submitted by Sam Johnson, was selected through this public process, and the entire mural—over 30 feet of colorful imagery—was completed in just one week. The quick turnaround was a testament to the students’ teamwork and commitment to creating meaningful art on a tight schedule.
Both projects exemplify what can happen when creative minds come together with a shared purpose. Students worked closely with faculty facilitators—myself, Professor Nathan Abels—and received generous support from Department Chairs Katie Caron and Kathy Sutherland. The spaces for these murals were made available through the kindness of Monika Foley, President of Aspen Grove and Child Development Center, who donated the physical space. These collaborations not only resulted in stunning visual additions to our community but also offered invaluable experience for the students involved, showing them how public art can foster community pride and connection.
For students eager to get involved in similar future initiatives, there are already opportunities through courses like Drawing 2, which frequently include mural projects and community outreach. The department also plans to establish a mural club to continue and expand this work, creating space for more students to engage with public art. Whether through coursework, extracurricular programs, or departmental support, students have many avenues to contribute their talents and make a lasting impact. Learn more about ACC's Art programs.
These projects are a reminder of the transformative potential of art created by students for the community. The murals at the CDC and Aspen Grove stand as vibrant symbols of collaboration, creativity, and community spirit, inspiring us all to participate and contribute our voices and talents to the public spaces around us.