UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler to Offer Public Art/Mural Painting Class, Opportunity for Area Entities

August 23, 2012

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 23, 2012

The University of Texas at Tyler will offer a public art/mural painting course for the spring 2013 semester, Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean, announced.

In the selected topics course, students will expand on painting techniques to support an exploration into public art and mural painting.

“I am eager to offer this art course for our majors at UT Tyler. It will provide an exciting opportunity for our students to work as a team and explore the demands and rewards of art as a community service,” said Alexis Serio, UT Tyler professor of art and course leader.

The course will combine historical study and hands-on learning. Students will participate in the details of building mural proposals and designs, meeting with potential clients, understanding how to solicit donations and participating in the collaborative process of site specific mural painting. Officials currently are selecting possible venues for which the class will develop permanent murals.

“I hope we will find venue owners eager to work with our students and who will see this as a potential to enhance the appreciation for the arts in the city of Tyler and surrounding areas,” Serio said.

All venues will be taken into consideration, though exterior spaces with a small budget for supplies are preferred. Site/business owners may give design as well as subject matter suggestions and will approve the final design, she added.

The course “Beginning Painting” is a prerequisite for the class. Space is limited. Those interested in enrolling should be knowledgeable of painting techniques, color mixing and painting practices.

For more information, contact Serio, 903.566.7248 or aserio@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.