The Mural: Facts and Figures
Location: The mural is located
between the 1st and 2nd floors in the James Branch Cabell Library on the
Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University; this location
was chosen because of its high visibility. This location allows the most
viewing by foot traffic in the Cabell Library. A smooth surface with no
evidence of leakage or structural damage on the walls surrounding the
central staircase was added incentive to use this location. Easy access
for planning, painting and cleanup made this an ideal interior surface.
Life span: Most interior
permanent murals have a life span of 10-plus years. By using a gel medium
over thin layers of acrylic, this mural should last close to a century.
Mural team: The mural is
the result of a true collaborative process. Students in Janet Gilmore-Bryan's
Mural Painting class, offered by Communication Arts: Illustration • Drawing • Visual Studies, School of the Arts, comprised the mural
team. Gilmore-Bryan brought significant experience and expertise in painting
large-scale work, including murals, to the project. Her teaching experience
and expertise were also critical to project success.
Creating the vision: The
mural team worked with the VCU Libraries' senior administration and development
personnel to plan and develop the mural theme. Emphasis was placed on
a mural that captured and reflected not only the soul of the University,
but also its unique location and role in the community and in the city.
Emphasis was also placed on the multi-faceted theme of diversity. Following
a kick-off meeting with VCUL personnel, the mural team was on its own.
Working with a vast array of print, web-based resources, digital camera
and image editing software students brainstormed specific themes and images,
chose the designs, and began to develop creative pictures that expressed
the themes, as well as the mission, vision and values of the VCU Libraries.
Combining elements from multiple drawings into a single design was a critical
step in the creation of the vision.
Preparing the surface for work: Clean, dry walls are essential. Before transferring the design and painting
the mural, students prepared the mural surface by cleaning and priming
the surfaces.
Painting the mural: Mock
designs were developed and mural designs transferred to the surface prior
to mural painting. The grid system was used to transfer drawings to the
wall. Freehand, or direct painting, was also used for wall painting. Mural
painting began with the background and finished with details and areas
of shading. Periodically, the whole team stepped back and critiqued the
progress of the mural. Changes and additions were gradually made over
the course of the semester, during weekly class sessions and often 'after
hours,' and the mural became more visually unified. Creative ideas continued
to flow throughout the semester, resulting in a dynamic presentation with
unsurpassed visual richness.
Materials: Sketch materials
include pencils, sketchpads (or variations on a theme), and, of course,
erasers. Painting materials include yardsticks, measuring tape and rulers;
Utrecht acrylic paint; brushes of various sizes; mixing trays, tins, plastic
tubs and old containers; cleaning supplies (soap, buckets, rags, paper
towels etc.); drop cloth and newspaper to protect the floors; scissors;
etc.
Scaffolding: Scaffolding
was rented to facilitate drawing.
Cleanup: At
the end of every formal painting session, i.e. after class, and at the
end of every informal painting session, students left time for cleanup.
Materials were left in good condition for reuse. Lids were tightly covered.
Paint tins and brushes were washed thoroughly. Clean supplies were gathered
and placed in a storage area at the end of the day.
Dedication: To celebrate
the mural's relationship to the University community, and the team's skill,
creativity and teamwork, a dedication ceremony is being planned for fall
2004.
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