Abstract

The goals of the Diversity Mural Project were to beautify the community with a piece of public art through a partnership between California State University, East Bay and the City of Hayward, to provide local teens with the opportunity to work in a diverse group to design and paint a mural that represents diversity, and to further research on the benefits of participating in artistic activities for youth. Karon Fleming, a University student and community artist, came up with the idea for the project; University faculty members Christina Chin-Newman (Dept. of Human Development and Women’s Studies) and Sylvia Min (Dept. of Art) then applied together successfully for a faculty support grant from CSU East Bay. The City of Hayward found the mural site at the building of Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL), an organization which serves individuals with disabilities. Nine high school students, from three local high schools, were selected to participate in the Diversity Mural Project. They learned about design and art history from Min, and the history of the Hayward area from faculty member Robert Phelps (Dept. of History), before generating several possible mural designs. The final design, approved by CRIL and the City of Hayward, was a giant eye with a globe as the iris, and people holding up the globe. All high school participants were instructed in mural painting techniques by Fleming, and supervised in the painting of the mural by Fleming and Min, who were assisted by two teaching assistants (University students majoring in art). Min created a book documenting the collaborative process of designing and painting the mural. Some of Chin-Newman’s research findings were that participants enjoyed meeting people different from themselves, and the experience of working together as a team.