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Office
of News and Information
July 11, 2005 |
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UT Tyler Students and Professor Paint Mural in Library
Three undergraduate art majors and an art professor are painting a mural on a main wall of the UT Tyler library. “I wanted to paint something that was public and incorporated undergraduates,” said Alexis Serio, assistant professor of art. Serio received a $4,000 grant from the President’s Faculty/Student Summer Research Grant program to paint the mural. She is working with Michal Durham, Athens senior; Jodi Rubbelke, Flower Mound senior; and Tracy Wyckoff, Spanish Fork, Utah, sophomore. The grant was created by UT Tyler President Rodney H. Mabry in 2000. Its purpose is to encourage faculty development in the research arena and to encourage them to engage undergraduate students in the research and teaching process. “It is really exciting to be a part of a university that encourages its faculty to try new things and venture out,” said Serio. The grant will pay for materials and student salaries, and paint was donated by Liquitex Paints, according to Serio. So far, the students and Serio have worked about 40 hours on the mural, which includes brainstorming, sketching and painting. “First, we came up with a sketch, and then projected the image on the wall so we could trace it. We then filled it in with color and each time we paint, we add more detail. It looks like a completely different painting each time we paint,” said Serio. The painting is inspired by the work of Franz Marc, a German expressionist, but has an East Texas landscape feel. “I wanted to do something abstract, and present it in a place that would reach non-art students,” said Serio. The mural is set to be completed around mid-July. “We are excited about it because it shows how successful and exceptional the art department is here at UT Tyler and the direction we are going,” said Durham. An opening reception is being planned for the fall semester.
Contact person: Lisa Buchanan, (903) 565-5769
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