February 1998
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Mural Peaks Semester of Class Reflection
Students in the College of Public and Community Service (CPCS) signed up for the "Multicultural Art Project" last semester to earn competencies in the arts. By December, they were not only closer to their degrees, but they knew a little more about themselves, diversity, and images that are personally meaningful. As an added bonus, they got to work with a well-known practicing artist on a unique project soon to be displayed on campus.
"The approach was to generate ideas for a mural that I will paint with assistance from the students," said Wen-ti Tsen, course instructor and 35-year practicing artist. Tsen creates mostly public art, often in the form of murals and sculptures. Several of his murals can be seen in the Chinatown section of Boston.
"We spent about 10 weeks going through the process of understanding what each person comes from," Tsen said. "From the beginning to the end, people went through a lot of different experiences.
"At first, it seemed like group therapy," Tsen said. "They revealed very painful struggles in their lives and were very forthcoming in presenting their rather deep thoughts."
The 10 students from diverse backgrounds were assigned to bring in objects and symbols that represent their culture. Expecting objects that would identify cultural or ethnic backgrounds, Tsen said he was surprised by the results. "Most people chose to identify what their chosen affinity was," he said.
Some objects he saw identified with certain life experiences, being gay or lesbian, and overcoming addictions. "The class was structured in such a way that I was eliciting ideas from people that would go beyond what I would consider the first level of diversity."
In addition to bringing in objects, students told and wrote personal stories and interviewed family members and people they perceived to be very different from themselves.
The mural will be 8 feet by 16 feet. After much reflection, class members decided to compose the mural of life-size portraits of themselves. "The reason we chose portraits is that people are so important in their representation," Tsen said. The objects brought to class will also be incorporated, as well as the viewer, who will be reflected in the mirrors on which the portraits will be painted.
Tsen, who has taught at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, where he also studied, said last semester was a unique experience for him. He believes the class experience was empowering for his students as well. "At the end of the class there seemed to be a real sense of cohesion," he said.
Tsen and students will work on the mural each Tuesday and Thursday through March from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Wheatley Building. All are welcome to stop by, Tsen said. (Check with the CPCS receptionist for room number.)
"I learned a lot from the people and the experiences that they went through. I'm quite excited about painting the people," Tsen said.
The course was funded by a $50,000 Campus Diversity Cultural Resource Initiative grant administered by the American Festival Project and funded by the Ford Foundation. The grant has also funded drumming events and art exhibits on campus.