Enhancement of UTD Eco Hub with Nature Themed Murals Painted by Students

January 27, 2023

UTD’s Eco Hub, an organic microfarm focused on nutritious food production for food insecure communities through the Comet Cupboard and other North Texas Food Bank Partner Agencies, recently received a colorful improvement with the addition of murals focused on environmental themes. UTD is brimming with talent across a diverse range of vibrant programs and the addition of murals at the Eco Hub is a perfect example of collaboration bringing together talent to make a lasting impact. Gary Cocke and Avery McKitrick from the Office of Sustainability along with SV Randall, Assistant Professor in Arts Humanities & Technology (AHT [Arts Humanities & Technology] ), initiated the project to connect with AHT students while exploring themes of nature, farming, food justice, equity, pollinators, and school pride. With the recent merger between A+H [Arts & Humanities] and ATEC [Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communications] , the current construction of the Athenaeum, and the ongoing progress made in the New Dimensions campaign, the arts are poised for exciting growth at UTD!

Students worked on collaborative or individual designs to reflect on our connections to the natural world, our local communities, and society. Each design tells a different story depending on the artist’s desired message and goal for the mural.

Mina Forouzandeh, a Visual and Performing Arts major focusing on Painting and Sculpture, designed her mural to show the direct relationship between humans and the environment. The human heart, integrated with plants and animals, represents how interconnected we are with nature.

“The mural I made with the heart, a crucial organ for all living things, has as its theme and message that it is impossible to separate the health of the environment from the health of living things, and that we should work to preserve this cycle as well as the environment and the natural world to ensure our own health.” – Mina Forouzandeh

The landscape motif is collaborative design by students Maryam Ashkaboosi and Vinayak Nair who described the mural as a symbol of wildfire impact on wildlife. The risk and extent of wildfires are increasing due to human-caused climate change and the mural is a depiction of how wildlife is harmed. The contrast between the geometric shapes and wildlife shows the disintegration in nature. The bright colors at the bottom which fade into grays towards the top mimic smoke and air pollution and show birds being forced to migrate from wildfires. Maryam Ashkaboosi, a Teaching Associate in AHT and MFA Creative Practices graduate, hopes that the audience of the mural will reflect on one’s contribution to climate change due to its significant impact on the environment, humans, and all creatures.

The mural depicting life on UTD’s campus was created by ATEC student, Eli Slack, who wanted to capture the feeling of belonging, innovation, and the promise of a better tomorrow. Eli’s approach to a design commission first involves fully researching and understanding the client - UTD and the Office of Sustainability in this case. This understanding is represented in the decision to utilize UTD’s colors and an illustrious location — the Plinth.

“I chose the Plinth as a subject because of its familiarity to students as well as its overall integration of nature and functional life. I wanted to capture the beauty of the mundane, a typical moment that anyone might experience while heading between classes at UTD.”

When asked about the message of his mural, Eli Slack described the theme as becoming more nuanced the longer he worked on it stating,

“I wanted to capture the community associated with this university, with students milling about, living individual lives, in an area we all would be familiar with. Despite this, I, like many artists, have something of an ego, which convinced me that it would be possible to do this entire mural by myself.”

After originally setting off to do this mural alone, Eli overexerted himself during the project and realized help was needed. Eli called upon fellow UTD students to help finish the mural and came to a powerful message.

“Why was I trying to make a mural all about community without anyone’s help? The piece itself is about coming together and representing the students of UTD as their own functioning ecosystem, and this was proven to be more accurate than I anticipated. This mural never would’ve been finished in time without the support from those around me, and thus the title of the piece, Community, rings especially true.”

In the end, a compelling scene with an equally powerful story was added to the project, leaving behind a lasting message of community.

Stone Mccormick, a Visual and Performing Arts major, created a verdant addition to the Eco Hub with his mural. The gradient blends light, refreshing colors to deep, calming tones and everything in between. The mural complements the Eco Hub, adding a serene addition to the landscape.

With the help of a group of talented UTD students, the Eco Hub is a vibrant place on campus with valuable messages on exhibit. The Office of Sustainability thanks SV Randall, Mina Forouzandeh, Maryam Askaboosi, Vinayak Nair, Eli Slack, and Stone Mccormick for their work. Next time you are on campus, pass by the Eco Hub on Synergy Blvd across from Point North Park to check out these fantastic murals and take a moment to reflect on the messages.

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