Fine art majors create colorful, welcoming space for Bulldogs in Recovery program
Contact: Christie McNeal
STARKVILLE, Miss.—An important space at Mississippi State now features a welcomed and encouraging addition, thanks to two senior art majors who enjoy sharing their talent with others.
Gabrielle “Gabby” Castleman of Brandon and Sara Beth Messemore of Madison spent the summer creating a colorful wall mural in MSU’s Bulldogs in Recovery program lounge that’s part of the Office for Student Well-Being. BIR is an initiative using a holistic approach in support of students in or seeking recovery from various addictions. Part of the broader Collegiate Recovery Community serving schools across the Southeast, it’s free and open to any university student.
BIR Coordinator Trey Griggs said the recovery lounge featuring the new mural is where the “magic” of the program happens, and Castleman and Messemore quickly learned the space’s importance when discussing program goals with him. Also sharing insight was MSU Department of Art Professor Soon Ee Ngoh, who coordinates mural artwork across campus.
“The Office for Student Well-Being is a beautiful space for not only those in recovery but for those who want a safe space to connect,” Castleman said. “Our hope is our mural continues to attract students to the space, and more can learn about the recovery center and how it supports students in many ways.”
Messemore added, “Doing this mural over the summer was an amazing opportunity for Gabby and me. We hope that we will get more opportunities like this in the future, so we can keep sharing with others what we love to do.”
The two worked to make sure every element was carefully selected for its symbolism, including the use of the color purple, which signifies recovery. They described that the butterflies in the design represent transformation and hope, and dragonflies symbolize personal growth and resilience to navigate life changes.
Also, a virtual reality headset from the College of Architecture, Art and Design’s Simulation and Interactive Visualization Applications Lab was used to transfer the design to three large walls—two measuring roughly 14 feet by 10 feet and one at 6 feet by 10 feet.
Griggs was thrilled with the result.
“It really transformed the room and made the space more fun,” he said. “My favorite part is a corner that a desk sits in. It’s very bright colors, has some doves and huge letters that spell the word ‘hope.’ That’s what recovery is to many individuals starting their recovery journey, so it hits home for many.”
The Office for Student Well-Being and its Bulldog Recovery Program are located at 205 Famous Maroon Band Street. Any student is welcome to stop by to see the mural in person. Visit https://www.studentwellbeing.msstate.edu for more information.
The project received funding from the James W. Criss Trust.
Learn more about MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design and the Department of Art at www.caad.msstate.edu.
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