Student-created murals now on display at Newport on The Levee

What started as Miami University’s first-ever mural class has ended with towering panels of color on public display at Newport on The Levee.

Last fall, 15 students at Miami University participated in the department of art’s first mural class. They created multiple works of art now on display at The Levee in the alley next to Brothers Bar & Grill. During the semester-long course, students learned the ins and outs of creating a mural while also gaining hands-on experience producing a large-scale public mural.

The students collaborated with The Levee’s staff to create a product incorporating nods to the community throughout the piece. Students, university faculty, city of Newport officials, and The Levee staff unveiled the works of art during a ribbon cutting on May 9.  

Miami University Junior Riley Johnson, who is one of the artists involved with the project, said the class was a great experience because they got to be the inaugural bunch, work in a large group, and collaborate to bring their art to the public.

“The whole process, from start to finish, is very rewarding,” Johnson said. “We got to see people jump into where they felt like they could contribute the best. People designing, coming up with ideas, coloring, the actual painting process, installation, everything from start to finish. I think we really created something that will last a long time, not only at Newport on the Levee, but at Miami University.”

Miami University Associate Teaching Professor Michael Stillion spoke at the ribbon cutting about the class’s process for creating the murals in Oxford, OH, and then displaying them in Newport. He said the murals were painted on a durable, flexible surface. The class met over seven weeks, twice a week for three-hour periods. Stillion said the students had about 14 to 16 days to complete the pieces.

“This is a very impressive accomplishment,” Stillion said. “It was a whirlwind of activity that was full of energy and immense focus that ended in a beautiful environment.”

Miami University Associate Dean of the College of Creative Arts Julia Guichard said that once the ball got rolling to collaborate on a mural at Newport on the Levee, the university realized it could be a class that would give students real-world experience, help them develop their artistic voices, and literally leave their mark.

“This is the first ever mural class in the department of art at Miami University that, in itself, is a milestone, but more than that, it is a model for collaboration between artists, educators, students and community partners,” Guichard said. “It shows what’s possible when we come together with imagination and openness.”

Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said having public art throughout the community is something the city cares about.

“I appreciate all these individuals that have taken time and spent all this effort to do this in a unique way,” he said. “I love the idea that they were able to do this in studio and a classroom, so they didn’t have to deal with the elements and being in the rain or the heat, and the quality of the project is demonstrated through that.”