HaileyLarsonMural_1 – Hailey Larson

USUSA hosts outdoor mural competition

Graduate studies senator Alex Braeger isn’t letting the pandemic (or the nearing end of the semester) slow him down. For over a year, Braegar has pioneered the first (maybe not ever, but it’s definitely been a while) Utah State University mural competition. The winners of the competition will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship and have their artwork exhibited at the display located between the Eccles Conference Center and the Geology Building. 

Q: How did USUSA come up with this idea to showcase student art on campus? 

A: I’ve always loved public arts, and I’ve always felt that USU, while having amazing architecture, is severely lacking in public art displays. Having the opportunity to be a senator provided a platform to make this competition a reality. Megan [Crosland] was my advisor in the student involvement office. She provided guidance along the way and helped navigate the many committees and levels of bureaucracy. We started this project last May and it was ready to go by this spring. Student Body President Sami Ahmed and Vice President James Morales are the primary supporters of this project. Without their support, this project couldn’t have happened. 

Q: How many submissions have you received? 

A: We’ve received around 50 submissions so far.  I think this is a good start but we would always like more submissions. My fear with this project has always been people feeling intimidated or not good enough to enter, that only art students had a chance at winning. This is why we made submissions free, opened it up to all mediums, and why we didn’t have a theme. We also are giving the winners a choice to either re-create their art directly on the wood on-site or have it printed on outdoor weather-resistant aluminum. I think this has made the competition more accessible, and less scary for new or non-professional artists. 

Q: Which mediums are the most popular?

A: Most so far are physical (oil or acrylic on canvas), however, we’ve received all types of visual medium (photography, digital art, mixed media, etc.).

Q: Which mediums are the least? 

A: Photography is one of the least represented. 

Q: Is there a specific age range or class that has submitted more works of art? Are the applicants largely in graphic design or other majors in the art college? Are they more male/female/other?

A: So far, we’re seeing about an equal amount of submissions from each class rank. As well, we’re seeing representation from pretty much every college on campus and about equal amounts of male and female applicants. This is what we wanted to demonstrate most of all with this project, that the creative arts aren’t exclusive to the arts college, that many students from all ages, genders and educational fields participate in and love the arts. 

Q: Who decides whom to award the scholarship to? Are there any faculty involved or is it just students? 

A: We have a judge panel of three judges. Two are students and one is faculty. The judging criteria are based on creativity, originality and quality of art. The top six students will be selected and each will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship. 

Q: How did you decide to showcase the art where you will be showcasing it? Will there be more opportunities like this in the future? 

A: My original idea was to commission students to paint murals on the side of a couple of USU buildings. However, the architectural review committee was not happy with that idea. So, after many different ideas were proposed and rejected, we came to the compromise to use the pergola normally used for advertising in front of the conference center. We are really optimistic this competition will happen again. Tim Olsen, a faculty member in the student involvement office, has been a supporter of this idea and ideas like it in the past. They have expressed interest in continuing the project in the future.

Q: Will the art continue to be displayed at the pergola near the conference center or someplace else?

A: It will likely be in the same spot, and if it expands it will do so in similar pergola structures around campus. 

Projects like these are a testament to the ability of USUSA Senators to improve the lives of students and atmosphere on campus. According to a paper published by the Public Network Council of Americans for the Arts, public places in city and university communities “gain value through public art — cultural, social, and economic value. Public art is a distinguishing part of our public history and our evolving culture. It reflects and reveals our society, adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness to our communities. Public art humanizes the built environment and invigorates public spaces. It provides an intersection between past, present and future, between disciplines, and between ideas [and] public art is freely accessible.” 

Artists have the unique capability to hold a mirror up to us so we can really see ourselves. By providing the opportunity for all students to apply to share their talents and express themselves — especially in a way that is accessible by other students and members of the university community — fosters an environment based on inclusion and that encourages harmony. The six students selected will hopefully represent the current university culture of Utah State, while also inspiring and/or reminding us to be better.

The following winners were announced on April 9: Cristina Espinoza, Brice Drake, McKenna Broadhead, Hailey Larson, Caslyn Hamilton, and Lily Petersen.

*Featured image by Hailey Larson, one of the winners of the competition. 

Sage Souza is a junior studying political science and Spanish. In her free time, she enjoys long walks on the beach, making too many playlists on Spotify, and retweeting Karl Marx fancams. 

—sage.souza@usu.edu

@sageksouza