Ohio University’s Baker University Center has a new addition — the mural on the second floor wall outside of the Baker University Center Theatre was redone — paid for by Event Services.
The mural cost $331.61, and the money came from the operating budget of Event Services, Dusty Kilgour, executive director of Event Services, said.
Kilgour added, Event Services also made a $500 donation to Undergraduate Art League, the group who painted the mural.
The funds provided the group with all of the materials needed for the mural, such as paint.
“It’s actually really cheap,” Kilgour said.
Ryan Lombardi, vice president for Student Affairs, said the cost was worth it to spruce up Baker Center.
The concept for the mural, which is a map of the City of Athens, was presented and approved by the Baker Advisory Board. Kilgour, Student Senate President Anna Morton, senate Vice President Mary Kate Gallagher, Graduate Student Senate President Joel Newby and other students and faculty sit on the advisory board.
“The idea is supposed to be central to OU or Athens,” Kilgour said. “I really like their rendition this time. I think it’s pretty cool.”
Although the concept has to be approved, all creative decisions are left to the art league, Lombardi said.
“The Undergraduate Art League is really doing all of the creative (work),” Lombardi said.
The mural will change every couple of years. Kilgour said the original idea was that the mural would be redone every other year, but he said he will leave the decision of when to repaint the mural to the art league, which painted the first mural.
“I think some of it is probably based on just when the students are ready and have the energy to do a new one or have an idea to do a new one,” Lombardi said. “It won’t be super often, but I wouldn’t be surprised if sometime in mid to late fall they entertain a new one again.”
Morton said the mural is a good use of money and likes how the mural turned out.
“It doesn’t just have to be OU-centered,” Morton said. “It incorporates the community of Athens (too).”
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