Western students leave their mark near campus through mural experience

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Fresh off a hockey national championship, a new homage to Western Michigan University is taking shape near Main Campus. On the side of the Campus Pointe strip mall, at Howard Street and Michigan Avenue, students armed with paint brushes are hard at work helping mural designer Brad Zenz, B.F.A.'09, bring to life his vision, which includes larger-than-life Western athletes, cheering fans, the iconic Seal and Gathering Tree statue and a vintage logo.

"It's bringing together past and present, and it’s really a celebration of Western Michigan and Bronco pride," says Zenz, who made the trip back to his old stomping grounds from Florida where his company, Backyard Muralz, is located.

In a full-circle moment, the Gwen Frostic School of Art alumnus is mentoring a new generation of Broncos as a guest artist in a summer murals course taught by Heidi Weiss, B.F.A.'04, M.F.A.'09, instructor of art. And they're painting the mural just a few feet from where the first mural he created as a senior at Western still hangs.

"That original piece was about the student journey, and at the time, I was graduating. Now it's cool to come back and really just celebrate Western and give back to the community. It's a powerful reflection of growth," says Zenz. 

The experience has given students a glimpse at what professional success could look like.

"As someone who is nearing the end of my degree, it has been inspiring to work with someone who graduated from Western that is actively and passionately working as an artist," says Anna Rittenhouse, a painting major from Traverse City, Michigan. "It just goes to show that there are jobs for us artists and that we can have success through pursuing our passions. It’s important for artists to know that there are a variety of ways to make art a career and that creativity is a skill that can be applied to any job."

A unique opportunity

Weiss describes the class as a hands-on, immersive experience designed to give students real-world skills and insights into mural-making that "blends artistic expression with technical know-how."

An example of Experience-Driven Learning in action, the course gives students the opportunity to work alongside a professional artist on a commissioned piece that will become a focal point in a high-traffic area near campus.

"Unlike other studio courses that focus on individual artwork, this course emphasizes collaboration, site-specific research and working directly with a community or client," says Weiss. "It’s a chance to see how public art lives outside a gallery and to develop practical skills that translate into professional opportunities in the arts."

"I’ve loved everything about this class. We’ve had the opportunity to explore how social media can be a powerful tool to market ourselves as artists," adds Rittenhouse. "We’ve learned how to handle the paperwork and logistics necessary to launch a project of this scale. We’ve collaborated as a team, problem-solved in real time and learned to adapt and support each other."

"It's been really fun getting out here and painting, and doing it alongside classmates is even better," says Ben Cabel, a photography major from St. Charles, Illinois, who is excited to add this work to his resume. "I can finally say I didn't just paint on my parents' walls." 

Expanding horizons

Students in the course include a diverse array of majors, from painting to photography to kinetic imaging and even geology. While many likely won't pursue a career as a muralist, it's still helping them paint a better foundation for their future.

"Heidi does an excellent job meeting students where they're at and helping them take away things that will be valuable for them in the future," says Rittenhouse.

"The murals course has certainly widened my horizons and shown me more paths forward," adds Claire Taylor, a painting major from Jackson, Michigan. "The advice given is invaluable for me as I can take what I learned and apply it to all sorts of avenues. This class is helping me better map out what I want to do after I graduate."

Zenz himself understands the importance of building a broad set of professional skills. While earning his degree in art, he also spent a good amount of time in Haworth College of Business where he minored in advertising and promotion. 

"The combination of art and marketing opened up remarkable opportunities," he says, having worked professionally as a marketer, art instructor and graphic designer before starting his current business in 2023.

Weiss says this is the first time she's collaborated with a professional artist for the class, but she's looking forward to more opportunities for her students to create public art in the future. 

"I think it's important to elevate each other and help each other have experiences," she says. "When people are making murals out in public, there's conversation that happens every time a car stops or somebody walks by, so it's spreading the word about making public art, too."

Students are relishing the chance to create something meaningful for the community.

"I like knowing that something I worked on is so visible and will be viewed so often. I think we all did great work on this project, and it makes me happy that the effort will be seen so much," says Taylor. "I hope it inspires awe."

"This experience has been incredibly rewarding and has shown just how impactful art can be when it’s shared with a community," Rittenhouse adds.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.