AMES, Iowa -- It's taken 1,200 student-hours to create. And it's almost done. Four Iowa State University student artists are putting the finishing touches on their 20-foot by 8-foot mural near the entrance to the College of Design.
The Unity Mural, "Towards a Legacy," illustrates the theme of One Community adopted by the university and the city of Ames. It was selected last spring in a juried competition among six entries.
Led by Kerry Anne Callaghan, a senior in art and design from Midlothian, Ill., and David Miller, a senior in architecture from Des Moines, the seven-member student team that created the mural spent the past 10 weeks painting on five concrete-slab panels in the basement studio of the design college. Last week, a crane lifted the nearly complete panels -- each weighing 480 pounds -- into place on the exterior wall of the Karol J. and Lila Furman Kocimski Auditorium.
"Towards a Legacy," features images of familiar Ames and ISU landmarks and activities, zip codes, and maps of the community from 1915 and 2005. There also are quotations about the connections between Ames and the university from university administrators and Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco. Everything is overlaid on an image of the College of Design atrium. An elderly person and a child are intended "to represent those who have built the ISU and Ames legacy as well as those who have yet to leave their mark," according to the narrative accompanying the design proposal. The overall design depicts ISU and Ames in partnership, growing together and thriving with one another.
"We wanted to emphasize the old and young, past and future people in the community. We wanted to show the excitement, growth and continuity in the connection between the university and the city," said Callaghan.
The students began painting on May 17. They first projected an image of the design onto the slabs and blocked in the base colors, Callaghan said. Each team member was assigned a portion of the mural to complete, based on his or her specialty, such as drawing perspectives or figures. They used exterior house paint for the mural.
For the text quotes, the students used lasers to cut out patterns on vinyl, then they spray painted the words onto the concrete.
"Producing the mural was a definite team effort. Everyone had to conform to the same painting style," said Callaghan, who wants to pursue a career painting murals.
The other students on the team were Emilie Elmore, Apple Valley, Minn., who graduated in art and design in May; Michael Glaser, Ames, junior in art and design; Terrell Robbins, Omaha, Neb., senior in art and design; Ashley Gene-Marie Stull, Urbandale, junior in interior design; and Frederic Wiegel, Coaldale, Colo., junior in art and design.
The competition was sponsored by the Government of the Student Body, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Design Council, and Office of the Dean, College of Design.
