Kalamazoo Times

Fresh off a national hockey championship, Western Michigan University (WMU) is celebrating with a new mural near its Main Campus. The mural, located on the side of the Campus Pointe strip mall at Howard Street and Michigan Avenue, features larger-than-life Western athletes, cheering fans, the iconic Seal and Gathering Tree statue, and a vintage logo. This project is led by Brad Zenz, a WMU alumnus and designer who returned from Florida to collaborate with current students.

"It's bringing together past and present, and it’s really a celebration of Western Michigan and Bronco pride," said Zenz. He expressed enthusiasm for mentoring new artists as part of a summer murals course taught by Heidi Weiss at WMU's Gwen Frostic School of Art.

Zenz's return to his alma mater is significant as he mentors students painting just feet away from his first mural created during his senior year at WMU. "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," he stated.

Students involved in this project gain valuable insights into professional art careers. Anna Rittenhouse, a painting major from Traverse City, Michigan, shared her experience: "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."

The course provides hands-on experience blending artistic expression with technical skills necessary for creating public art. "Unlike other studio courses that focus on individual artwork, this course emphasizes collaboration, site-specific research and working directly with a community or client," explained Weiss.

Ben Cabel, another student participant majoring in photography from St. Charles, Illinois, highlighted the collaborative aspect: "It's been really fun getting out here and painting, and doing it alongside classmates is even better."

Students across various majors are participating in this initiative. Claire Taylor from Jackson, Michigan noted how the course has expanded her horizons: "The murals course has certainly widened my horizons and shown me more paths forward."

Zenz's background includes both art and marketing education which he believes opened up opportunities in his career before founding Backyard Muralz in 2023.

Weiss hopes to continue such collaborations for future classes to create more public art projects. She emphasized the importance of these experiences: "When people are making murals out in public...it's spreading the word about making public art too."

The students appreciate their work's visibility within the community. Taylor expressed satisfaction with their contribution: "I like knowing that something I worked on is so visible...I hope it inspires awe." Rittenhouse added that this rewarding experience demonstrates art's impact when shared publicly.

For further information on WMU news or events visit WMU News online.