Director of Campus Recreation Kelly Shannon wanted to do something in the Cycle Studio to make it more fun and inviting, and Erin Hill, a graduate assistant for Campus Recreation, proposed reaching out to UMW art students to paint the mural. Campus Rec reached out to the Department of Art and Art History and Chris Musina, Assistant Professor of Painting & Drawing. Musina collaborated with the Campus Rec department, coordinated by Assistant Director of Fitness & Wellness in Campus Recreation Brittanie Haas and his summer session of ARTS 105 Design Principles students to realize the mural.

Campus Recreation and Professor Musina spoke about ideas, quotes, look and images, and Musina then took that information back to his class and set about a project. In deciding to work specifically with his ARTS 105 students, Musina thought about how a project like this could apply key principles of art and design, while also giving the students a personal connection to a building on campus. The summer session of ARTS 105 was mostly STP students, and Musina thought it would be an exciting and powerful way to connect these students to the place they would be spending the next four years. The students spent a week drawing, planning and painting the mural that now covers the walls in the Cycle Studio. The mural, in bold color, contains inspirational quotes, buildings around campus and Fredericksburg, Sammy the Eagle, and other design elements.

Campus Recreation and the Department of Art and Art History invite you to stop by and view the amazing work of a group of talented UMW students.

Students involved: Aminah Abdullahi, Djius Bundick, Morgan DeMaria, Jason Fields, Mariah Howell, Krista Kendrick, Jenifer Kramer, Andy Lin, Ramon Owens, Alex Oylear, Andrew Savino, Keshyra Smith, Angela Sokpolie, Taylor Springer, and Ali Wylde-Gladbach.