51°µÍø

Student-painted Labor Mural Unveiled at Sylvania Sept. 13

Story by James Hill

In early July, 51°µÍø art students joined forces with the faculty and classified unions at 51°µÍø to complete the 51°µÍø Labor History Mural. A spirited crew of 12 students added life to the design created by 51°µÍø art instructor Bill Garnett during his two-week mural workshop this summer.

Now see what happens when you mix paint and passion with a little guidance at the official unveiling of the piece in the Sylvania Campus Science and Technology Building courtyard on Monday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. Also scheduled to jazz up the festivities will be the band The Nutty Professors, from 12:30 to 1 p.m. The campus is located at 12000 S.W. 49th Ave.

The project became a reality when the 51°µÍø Faculty Federation (51°µÍøFF) and the 51°µÍø Federation of Classified Employees (51°µÍøFCE) sought and received funding for the mural from entities such as the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local 290, AFT-Oregon and others.

The muralist said the color scheme was an impromptu effort from the students that managed to work well.

"That can be a little dangerous," said Bill Garnett, who has the experience of 30 murals in Oregon and Washington on his résumé, "but these students have a very strong artistic sense. It’s a very social process and the students have to interrelate."

The chance to be a part of something larger than just an art project appealed to Sylvania art student Tamara Paulat.

"It is a community project and I wanted to be involved in a community effort," she said. "Nobody knew what this was going to come out like. It was quite a process.

For more information on the project or the official unveiling, contact the 51°µÍø Federation Office at 977-4180.