Editors: To arrange for photos, please contact Ricki Martinez in the Family Housing office at (303) 492-6384.
The Department of Family Housing at CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø will unveil a mural in remembrance of victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy in New York City on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. at the Athens North Community Room on the CU campus.
The Athens North Community Room is at 1855 Athens St.
The mural is made of eight connected canvas panels, each measuring 3 feet by 4 feet, on which artwork and words of remembrance by residents of Family Housing have been placed. Forming a backdrop for the mural is the skyline of New York City, minus the World Trade Center towers, painted by Alexandra Stewart, a CU fine arts student and resident of family housing.
The mural is covered with paintings of the American flag, scenery, quotes and other symbolic images. Some of the residents' children have created drawings that will be made into a collage, including them in what has become a community effort.
Where the World Trade towers used to be, there is a blank space on the mural's painted skyline. Within this space, quotes and poetry submitted by the residents are written in a thoughtful calligraphy. "It shows that our feelings and thoughts remain, although the buildings and the people in them may be gone," said Serena Wadlington, a resident manager with Family Housing, and originator of the idea for the mural.
Wadlington thinks of the mural project as a way to strengthen the bonds within the close-knit Family Housing community. A mother of two herself, she sees the importance of community in her residents' lives firsthand. She also wanted to find a way to include and support residents of Middle Eastern origin, some of whom have experienced a difficult time lately. "We have to build bridges to our Middle Eastern neighbors in Family Housing, and thankfully the other residents have been reaching out. It's not right that some people have been separated from the greater whole. There should be no great divide," she said.
Some of the funding for the mural was provided by the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø Housing department, but most of the materials were supplied by ArtMart, on the Hill in Â鶹¹ÙÍø.
"They gave us everything at cost or at a substantial discount, and for that we are very thankful," Wadlington said.
The mural will be relocated after the Oct. 14 unveiling for display in the Family Housing office and will be on display through the end of the month. For further details, including photo opportunities, please contact Ricki Martinez in the Family Housing office at (303) 492-6384.