On January 26, the University of Maryland College of Education unveiled a new mural during its annual winter retreat. The mural, titled "Transforming the Future,” celebrates the power of education.
Inspired by the college’s new tagline, “Transforming Education for Good,” and the relief sculpture created by retired Art Professor Randall Craig, the mural’s triptych design features outer panels depicting a learner and an educator, while the central panel showcases their hands separately holding a seedling and tree, symbolizing the nurturing of knowledge.
“We see [the mural] as a continuation of Dr. Craig’s work… a sort of visual conversation between the two pieces,” said Associate Clinical Professor Margaret Walker. “His sculpture [highlights] the history and purpose of education, while also looking toward the future in a positive way. We used these ideas to guide the design of our mural.”
The project was led by Jessica Brown ’23, a graduate student in the arts education program. Brown helped faculty, staff and students create colorful patterned papers using gelli-plates. She also worked with undergraduate students in the Foundations of Art Education class and the 2-D Art Methods class to develop the design and create the collage using the patterned papers. The collaborative effort resulted in a vibrant collage that spotlights the role educators play in society.
“Designing a community-based mural and involving as many EdTerps as possible was very meaningful to me,” explained Brown. “This project not only represents the college's vision for the future of education but also our ability to come together to create something breathtaking.”
The “Transforming the Future” mural is located in the Benjamin Building, Tawes-facing lobby.
