Seventeen students in the new Graffiti and Street Art course celebrated the unveiling of the first mural on University of Wisconsin-Stout’s campus on June 2.
Joined by Chancellor Katherine Frank; Provost Glendalí Rodriguez; Menomonie Mayor Randy Knaack; course instructors Professor Cynthia Bland and Lecturer Wade Lambrigtsen; and supporters from the university and area community, the class revealed its mural on the Applied Arts Building east loading dock wall.
A wash of cool blue hues, warm sandy tones and creamy oranges depict art through the ages and capture the rich culture that flourishes inside the building.
Frank expressed her pride and gratitude for the “exceptional vision, persistence and energy of Cynthia and Wade to launch a new course that has produced a lasting impact on the university. This mural signifies what it means to be ‘Made at Stout’ and sets our educational experience apart from others.
“We teach students how to move from ideation to production and enact the collaboration among stakeholders – in this case, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members – that leads to meaningful contributions to the larger community.”
Frank added that the mural opens up the possibility for additional collaborations and praised the Campus Art Committee, chaired by Bland, for considering ways to support equity, diversity and inclusion efforts through future projects, aligning with UW-Stout’s FOCUS 2030 goals.
“You should be proud of your work and the lasting impact it will have on campus,” she said to the student artists.
Knaack added that he believes “UW-Stout makes Menomonie a super cool city,” as he expressed his thankfulness for the university and the city’s cohesive relationship.
He asked, “What would Menomonie be without Stout? And what would Stout be without Menomonie? This is the kick off of more to come.”
