VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Wesleyan University's Neil Britton Art Gallery is overflowing with color! After months of hard work and buckets of paint, the Marlin Mural Festival is complete.
"You can see how hard they're working as we try to get this thing finished. It's been really terrific," said John Rudel. He's the Professor of Art and the gallery curator at Virginia Wesleyan.
"We did something different this time. Rather than bringing an exhibition in, we turned the gallery into a work environment. So this kind of immersive, painted environment is the result of several months of work by more than 60 students", said Rudel.
Rudel says, the room is one giant mural.
"I kind of wanted to make something like a metaphor for a strong woman. And women usually do things that are like out of this world," said Junior and Art and Education major, Iyonna Valentine.
"I love painting, so much. It's definitely calming for me, especially since I have anxiety. So I listen to music, and I just paint and it's really therapeutic for me, said Freshman and Art and Business major, Madison Dragas.
"We want them to kind of have that experience of, you know, expressing their voice developing their artistic voice, but also just kind of pragmatic, professional experience," said Rudel.
"So I was in a domestic violence situation. And for awhile, I was kind of unable to do art. This is one of the first pieces I've done since the end of that that I've really been proud of. This piece is based in domestic violence. And, it's really healing, you know, because art can be a healing process. A majority of healing for me was thrown into this," said India Johnson, Junior and Art Major.
Johnson said everything from the color purple, to the butterflies to the woman in the painting, mean something to her as a domestic violence survivor.
"I want them to be inspired by it. Because for, me this piece is about strength," said Johnson.
This project has not only helped students heal, but Rudel says it also gives them professional exhibition experience.
"Art doesn't have to be perfect. No matter what you make, no matter how many mistakes are in it, it's always going to be a form of art," said Sophomore Art major, Anika Valentine.
