Daily Aztec Story: Murals made to inspire recovery

Lauren Holland is an unlikely artist.

Injured from an industrial accident, the San Diego State anthropology major could barely walk for more than 10 minutes. She underwent kinesiotherapy at the SDSU Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities at Peterson Gym. Out of the long hours spent with kinesiotherapy interns, an idea was born.

"I was laying on my back getting core muscles stretched, looking up at the ceiling thinking how incredibly ugly it is," Holland said. "From that...the idea came, 'Wouldn't it be great if (the ceiling) had clouds and you could paint it?'"

The "Visual Therapy Sky Mural" is a child's dreamscape of a Pacific sky and sandy beach that runs the length of the 26-foot long ceiling and continues onto a side wall.

The murals were painted after consultations with a carpenter and graphic artist.
Jan Thurman, the clinic's program director, said the redecorating is a welcome addition.

"Our clients are individuals with various disabilities who require stretching and strengthening on mat tables," Thurman said. "Looking up into these excellent murals as they work on their exercise programs will make a difference in mood and motivation."

Holland proposed the project as part of her work with the Faculty/Student Mentoring Program in the College of Arts and Letters. The program helps first year transfer students achieve academic success, connecting them with like-minded peers and providing opportunities for community service. With the approval of her faculty mentor, Isidro D. Ortiz, Ph.D., Holland set about amassing donations and volunteers for the semester-long project.

The President's Leadership Fund, which supports philanthropic work by students and faculty, provided key funding for the project. Other supporters include the SDSU Physical Plant and the Associated Students.

Holland said the students of the mentoring program got together on April 26 for a "painting party." The volunteers stretched out the Tyvek canvas along the hall of Peterson Gym and spent the entire day decorating it with scenes of white clouds, birds and superheroes. Holland said the artwork is supposed to evoke pictures from a child's coloring book. When the mural is installed, model kites will hang from the ceiling with it.

The murals are currently stored in the clinic and the installation date is still pending.

Ortiz, who said he is delighted with the project, credits the students.

"My part was to facilitate and advise the students, all of whom are first generation college students," Ortiz said. "It was a project conceived and implemented by them, reflecting their inspiring creativity, strong leadership abilities and solid commitment to service and the campus."