Mural shares message of encouragement to Thomas More University community

A new mural, designed and produced by Associate Professor Betty Bone’s ART 360 Visual Communications Class in fall 2024, is spreading positivity within the Thomas More University campus community. Its message, painted on the east side of the Academic Building facing the Five Seasons Family Sports Club, is a reminder that life’s small victories deserve to be celebrated. Student designers and mural production leaders were Cheyenne Crane, Katie Frazee, Ysabel Ostigin, and Nancy Sutkamp. Ostigin shares the following reflection on the experience – and its enduring message for the community.

When I first signed up to take Betty Bone’s Visual Communications class, I didn’t expect that I would end up being a part of a mural that would last for years to come. Originally, the course was designed to be focused on graphic design, with all of our projects done on the computer, however, when Professor Betty Bone told us about the opportunity to create a mural, we had a decision to make: stick with the usual assignments on the computer or take on a large challenge. The choice was obvious: a mural is a rare opportunity, and we all were excited to take on a process that would leave a lasting impact on campus.

The mural process started before we would even know if we would get the approval to paint or not. However, to get started, we needed a theme. A theme that would reflect Thomas More University’s mission while also standing the test of time. After weeks of searching, we all agreed on the phrase, “Celebrate every win, no matter how small.” As artists, we all know how important mental health is, something that often gets overlooked. To me, this quote is a reminder that accomplishments do not have to be over the top to be considered important. Even getting out of bed in the morning can be considered a win. You don’t have to win a Nobel Peace Prize or become president to feel like you have accomplished something.

Once we had decided on the message, the real work began. First, we had to measure the wall, which turned out to be harder than expected. Every time we measured, we all got different numbers. It was almost comical; there’s a reason that we are art majors and not math majors. Once we had the correct measurements, Betty created a template in Adobe Illustrator so each of us could design our own concepts. This part was exhausting. We had probably made more than 10 iterations each, revising constantly after every round of feedback. It was a long, detailed process, but eventually, we reached a final design – a combination of all our ideas.

The next hardship was getting approval from the board. We waited and waited, but when the response came, they were excited about the idea. With this green light, it was time to bring our design to life. First, we started with priming the wall, and with a lot of help from fellow art majors, professors, family, friends, etc., the design was able to be translated from the computer to the wall. With the design projected onto the wall, we encountered a lot of challenges. The weather was getting colder, and with the time change, we had to wait until it was dark enough to see the projection clearly. Additionally, our class met from 5:00 to 7:45 p.m., so we often had to wait until 6:30 to start tracing. On top of that, we planned additional painting days on Fridays and Saturdays, making sure that everyone could contribute and we could get it done in time. In addition, we even incorporated the mural into Saints Serve, though painting in freezing temperatures wasn’t exactly ideal.

Despite the challenges, the entire process was a team effort. Everyone was willing to step up, and I’m so proud of what we created together. This semester started off rough for me—losing my dog, Lilly, made it incredibly difficult—but working on this mural gave me something positive to end the semester with. It turned what could have been a terrible few months into something fulfilling and meaningful.

Despite the experience of creating the mural itself, this project will have a lasting impact in so many ways. It’s something we can add to our portfolios, a real-world example of creative direction and teamwork. Betty even pointed out that leading a project like this shows strong leadership skills, something valuable for any career. Furthermore, the mural itself will be here for years to come. Even though it’s on the backside of the building, I hope people who walk by it feel a sense of joy from the bright colors and the message. Hard work went into this, and I hope it stands the test of time as a reminder to celebrate every win, no matter how small.