Students Paint the Town: Columbia and Partners Expand Wabash Arts Corridor With New Murals

Michelle Aiello / Aug 01, 2024

Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Students working on the "Curious Bunny" mural on the Student Center.
Columbia College Chicago, in strategic partnership with Behr Paint, The Home Depot, and One Summer Chicago, is transforming the Wabash Arts Corridor with vibrant new murals.

This summer, Columbia College Chicago is participating in a new strategic partnership with Behr Paint, The Home Depot, and One Summer Chicago to create a vibrant public art project while providing valuable work experience for students. This collaboration will add two new outdoor murals to the Wabash Arts Corridor and several new indoor murals on campus. Columbia faculty members developed the concepts for the outdoor murals, while students were the creative force behind the indoor work.  

Here is an overview of the mural projects:  

  • "Curious Bunny" by Cheri Charlton: This playful piece adorning Columbia’s Student Center's north wall shows a stylized bunny jumping through a thorny garden. Charlton says the bunny is a nod to student curiosity, with the thorns symbolizing the challenges faced before reaching one's goals. At more than 11,000 square feet (about twice the area of a basketball court), it’s the largest mural created by a woman in Chicago.  
  • "Swamp” by Cecilia Beaven: Featuring alligator silhouettes in bold colors, this eye-catching work will transform the facade of Columbia’s 916 S. Wabash building, adding another splash of color to the neighborhood. 
  • Student-led murals: Columbia students put their creative talent to work and painted individual murals in the campus event space called Haus, located on the first floor of 623 S. Wabash, and the Student Diversity and Inclusion (SDI) space.  

Student Murals WAC Summer 2024

In addition to the public art installations, this project will provide paid summer jobs, offering students hands-on experience in mural painting and project management. This aligns with the One Summer Chicago program, which focuses on providing meaningful employment experiences for young people. 

"We are thrilled to partner with Behr Paint, The Home Depot, and One Summer Chicago on this exciting project," says Kari Sommers, Associate Dean of Student Life at Columbia. "This collaboration not only enhances our campus but also contributes to the vibrant cultural landscape of Chicago." 

The murals are expected to be completed by early September, adding a fresh and inspiring touch to the Wabash Arts Corridor and marking a colorful beginning to the fall semester. An unveiling event will take place on Thursday, September 5 from 4-5 p.m. on the first floor of the Student Center.  

 

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