It’s not every day that your school’s walls become a canvas for your creativity.

For students in Visual Arts 390: Community Arts Practice, it’s the tangible results of their learnings this semester.

This collaborative project couldn’t have come at a better time either, noted Cindy Schultz, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, “We were looking around and thought, ‘what can we do to brighten it up here and make it more inviting for students and faculty?’”

The idea of engaging and collaborating with visual arts students isn’t new to UFV.

This semester it has taken a different form: livening up Building A on the Chilliwack campus with not just one, but two different murals designed by students.

“We were so excited with the work the students did, we opted to choose a second mural,” Schultz explained, “The students toured the campus, looking around the mountains, the river, the farmer’s field, the land, and it really came out in all of their presentations.”

That wasn’t by accident, but design, according to Deborah Silver, the instructor for Visual Arts 390 this semester.

“We wanted to teach in a way that mentors students in the entire mural creation process, from ideating and designing to painting, finalization, and communicating with stakeholders,” said Deborah Silver, the instructor for VA 390 this semester.

The mural process all starts with a concept: each student designed one to pitch to their client (in

this case, UFV). The concepts are complemented with students’ artist statements, providing insight and context to their thought process and design. This helps the client choose the concept that best fits their needs. Once the selection is made, students then work together to complete the work, providing the labour and gaining valuable experience in the process, all while creating something that will last beyond their time at UFV.

Mark Goudsblom, UFV associate vice president of campus planning, sees how that can affect students and their careers.

“Sometimes we have students that are just taking this as an additional course but they’re not artists themselves. But then they get to be part of something bigger and has a legacy and it ties them into that greater sense of belonging.”

Whether it’s the chance to practise your learning, the opportunity to connect with a community, or the sense of belonging such a project can create, painting these murals has left a great impression on at least one student.

“I’ve never painted a mural before but now I want to do more!” said Jamie Wallman.