A collaborative mural is nearing completion in the newly-remodeled Lydia M. Olson Library at Northern Michigan University. The artwork, by graphic design and ecology student Sydney Kuipers, depicts a variety of animals native to the Upper Peninsula arranged in a geometric-type pattern. It is located front and center along the wall near the information services desk. Campus and community members have assisted in painting the mural.
“I was super-inspired by the aquatic and semi-aquatic animals that live in the U.P.,” Kuipers explained. “I talked to a couple of my friends who work in the fish labs and a couple of my professors about specific species of fish I should use, as well as the other animals.”
The project was initiated by student and Library Mural Committee (LMC) President Vann Squier as a community service internship through the Student Leader Fellowship Program.
“It's something I've actually thought about since my freshman year, right before they closed the last library,” Vann Squier said. “I remember being shown the prospective photos of what the library would look like once it opened and thinking, ‘that space needs color.'”
The LMC began the project in February by opening up mural art submissions to NMU students with the theme: “Paint your happy place!” It received seven submissions in just under two weeks. The proposals featured a variety of concepts, such as the wilderness, landscapes, Lake Superior, Aurora Borealis and Wildcat Willy.
Following the submission period, the LMC conducted a voting period where students, staff and community members could select their favorite pieces in a ranked-choice voting format. The winner amongst the seven submissions was Kuipers.
After prepping the outline of the mural, the LMC organized painting sessions open to the campus and broader community, where participants could help paint the mural color-by-number style. Supplies were provided by the committee. The final painting session is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. Saturday, April 11. Touch-ups are scheduled for the week of April 13, with an unveiling event on the horizon, likely for the week of April 20.
For more updates and information, visit @nmumuralcommittee on Instagram.
