Mural ignites creative confidence

Senior year of high school was cut short due to the 2020 pandemic. Prom was canceled, graduation was online, and many friends moved away without a final goodbye. Xavier University had been my dream school ever since the spring of 2019, when I toured the campus. I was mesmerized by the hundreds of murals covering the downtown area. I felt like I belonged in this beautiful place filled with this rich artistry - the feeling was unmatched.

Fast forward to sophomore year when I attended a career fair at Xavier. The fair was full of hungry business students scouring rows upon rows of various companies looking for new hires.

I strolled along the tables collecting different pamphlets and business cards when my attention was grabbed by a hot pink table. The representative informed me about what Artworks Cincinnati's mission and purpose was in the city. I was astounded to learn that all of the murals I had admired while living there were created by young artists only 14-21 years old. I had just turned 20, so she gave me instructions to apply before the summer applications closed because this would be my last year of eligibility.

I wasted no time at all to apply. I got accepted into the program and was placed in a group of about eleven student artists to work on our given mural. The design for our mural was created by the world-famous Daev MOMO. His use of color theory and customized rollers and repetition is what he is best known for. We spent the first week or so getting to know our team while the 90-foot wall was being prepared for our painting.

Despite the nightmares I had for the first week about falling from the scaffolding, I melted into my position on the team quickly. Because we were working on such a large building, trust and teamwork were crucial for the flawless execution. I think back with pride about how my leadership skills developed over the summer.

We worked through several redesigns of the original plan and adjusted to the various challenges we faced, with several of our days being cut short due to dangerous heat or rain.

Nearing the end of the summer, I began rethinking my college plan. I was currently on track to receive my degree with an advertising major and an arts administration minor. However, working on the mural with other creatives made me reconsider not studying studio art. I thought that if all of these wonderful people I was surrounded by could live as working artists, why couldn't I?

I spoke with my advisor and swapped out my arts administration minor with studio art. For the next two years, I had the opportunity to try as many art classes as my schedule allowed. I am so grateful to have taken advantage of the unique classes Xavier's art department had to offer. The professors at the school were the most helpful and encouraging to my confidence as an artist.

I look at where my art career is at in the present moment and think back to that summer apprenticeship with great pride and gratitude. I am incredibly blessed to have been at the right place at the right time at that career fair.