Students create 'What Comes Next' mural

Nine University of North Georgia (UNG) visual arts students have created a mural at UNG's Dahlonega Campus that brings the university's tagline — "What Comes Next" — to life in full color. The mural overlooks the Promenade and volleyball courts and is close to the Library Technology Center.

The project, which was part of Vivian Liddell's special topics in mural painting course this semester, began with an eight-week process that included multiple rounds of designs in collaboration with the Division of Strategic Communications & Marketing. Student Emma Jackson's design was chosen, and the remainder of the semester was used for painting the mural.

The other students on the project were Abigail Brown, Chandler Hensley, Cathy McLendon, Ayla Millar, Ruthie Nash, Zoe Presten, Maria-Paola Russi, and Ella Whitfield.

Jackson, a senior from Columbus, Georgia, will graduate May 14 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in visual arts with concentrations in graphic design and printmaking and paper arts.

"I've been celebrating so many endings. It's been really cool to focus on the What Comes Next mural as I figure out what comes next for me," Jackson said. "It's great to be able to leave my mark on UNG."

Jackson has accepted a one-year position as a Fuge Camps program specialist for Lifeway in Nashville, Tennessee. Her time working on the mural opened her eyes to possibilities for such projects in her future.

Presten, a senior from Cumming, Georgia, pursuing a degree in art with a concentration in graphic design, said the mural project has made her look at a wider array of career options as she prepares for graduation. She hopes the mural will similarly encourage others to reflect on their options.

"I truly hope that people take it seriously and think about their lives and shift direction in a good way. A lot of times people go through college just to get a degree, and I want them to be able to think of all the possibilities and not sell themselves short," Presten said. "As an artist, you have to dream big. Everyone deserves to be creative and believe they can make an impact in their community with their education."

In addition to creating the mural, students also had a chance to hear from professionals who could provide them guidance on how murals could play a part in their future. That included a field trip to Athens, Georgia, where they learned from Tatiana Veneruso, Athens-Clarke County public art coordinator, and a visit from members of the Vision 2030 Public Art Committee of Hall County.

Liddell said the UNG administration's full support has been instrumental in the project, which she said helped students uncover their strengths and learn to collaborate. The wall housing the mural is four and a half feet tall and 275 feet long.

"This gives students confidence they can create something on this scale and encourages them to make that leap after graduation," Liddell said.