Hoping to beautify the University District, Undergraduate Student Government is adding a little art to the area.
On Saturday members of the USG Off-Campus Committee began work on a colorful mural, painted on the side of Smoker’s Haven at 2106 N. High St.
“We wanted to give students an idea of off-campus unity,” said Audrey Walton, co-chairwoman of the event. “Just something to be proud of and clean the neighborhood up.”
About 40 volunteers came out, despite cool weather and a holiday weekend.
The supplies were bought with USG off-campus funds and grants from Student Affairs and Coke. Planning began for the event in November.
Leah Dixon, a junior majoring in art, won the design contest that USG held to find a mural.
“I saw a sign up in the art school that advertised it and I thought it would be really cool,” Dixon said. “I had a piece in mind that was already done, I just needed to change it a little to fit.”
Dixon, who is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, was thrilled to find out she had won the contest from one of her sisters who served on the committee.
“Its a pretty abstract piece – they tend to intertwine,” Dixon said.
About 15 members of her sorority came to the painting on Saturday, to show their support for the cause.
Scott Schieff, owner of the Smoker’s Haven building, said USG was very professional in its proposal to use his building.
“It’s an artistic approach to a brick wall,” Schieff said. “And it beats the graffiti.”
Schieff, who also owns the property at 1782 N. High St., where Starbucks and Urban Outfitters are located, is open to more art in the future.
About half of the mural has been completed, and it will be finished Saturday. Interested students are welcome to come help.
