Collaborative Community Mural Celebrating Healthy Living Together

This summer, I’m joined in the studio by friends from The Arc of Benton County! We’re working on a movable mural on the theme of “Healthy Living Together” made possible by a grant from Oregon Health Authority for tobacco use prevention.

This mural project has been designed to be as fully community collaborative and inclusive as possible of folks who work with The Arc. Beginning with the concept stages, community members were invited to participate in focus groups to discuss imagery, color, and narrative in murals that connect to ideas of healthy living. Community members gave their perspectives on what healthy living looks like for them, as well as feedback on style choices and specific images that are preferred or non-preferred to represent healthy living. We talked about messages of tobacco use prevention, including how “Don’t Smoke” campaigns affect the community. Overall, participants noted that the “Don’t Smoke” was less appealing, and they would prefer to focus on healthy ways of living and being in community.

After collecting this information, I supported the project by creating a concept sketch. The sketch includes key elements that recurred in the focus group sessions: sunshine, outdoors, healthy foods and physical activities like biking, hiking and Tai Chi. The most important aspect that recurred frequently was being with the people who support and love us in our activities. Comments about family, friends and support staff came up a lot and so became the central focus turning “Healthy Living” into “Healthy Living Together.”

I have kept my sketch for the mural as simple as possible to allow for the most flexibility in expression and at the moment decision-making for participants. The mural is on mural cloth from Mural Colors so it’s moveable and easy to store, and it’s painted with acrylics. Participants are coming into my studio, or into various collaborative spaces around Corvallis to paint and add details. As we work, we talk, snack, make suggestions, ask questions and encourage each other. 

The project is, of course, extremely awesome for the opportunity to highlight voice, perspective and personal creative choice. Personally for me, I am loving the time painting with a crew and inviting folks into the new studio to share materials and ideas!

This mural is scheduled to complete by the end of summer 2024, and will then start making its rounds between The Arc locations. Check back here for more updates and see what’s new with The Arc of Benton County and Oregon Health Authority.