Student-Driven Mural Brings New Color to Campus
Our campus has received a colorful gift with the recent completion of a vibrant new mural on campus, a collaborative student and community effort spearheaded by PC Fine Arts students and our new Painting and Drawing Instructor, Angel Lesnikowski.
This impressive project, which began as a student idea and transformed into a significant campuswide endeavor, highlights the artistic talent and collaborative spirit within our students.
The project began when students from the art club expressed a desire to create a mural. After the sudents secured approval to use a dedicated space with the support of Art Instructor Jackie Buttice and Dean of Instruction Michelle Miller-Galaz, the idea quickly gained momentum. Buttice further assisted the art club students in presenting their proposal to the campus community, which was well-received and secured funding, allowing the project to “blossom and turn into this wonderful, community-driven project”.
Angel Lesnikowski, an adjunct faculty member in painting and drawing at Porterville College and at Clovis Community College, played a pivotal role in bringing the mural to life. With her extensive experience in collaborative murals, including projects involving community and multiple artists, Lesnikowski was well-equipped to guide the endeavor. She also designed the mural, choosing an octopus as the central theme.
Leslie Alvarado, a third-year PC student who recently graduated, was instrumental in initiating the idea and theme for the mural. Alvarado explained the significance of the octopus design, noting the school’s pirate theme and how the octopus symbolizes the ability to “do more than one thing”. Alvarado believes this concept reflects what the art department teaches students: versatility beyond a single artistic medium.
Beyond its artistic merit, the mural also fostered a stronger sense of community among students. Alvarado shared that the art department helped her build friendships and connections, leading to the collaborative environment that made the mural possible.
This new mural stands as a testament to the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit of the Porterville College Fine Arts students and the supportive campus community. It will be officially unveiled to campus at the Fine Arts Building Open house on September 24th at 3pm.
Look for more information on that event in future editions of the Crow's Nest and check out our campus social media over the next few weeks for video sneak peeks of the creation of the mural like the one below.
