University Cafeteria Truly Serves Food For Thought

BY: TAYLOR BURTON – Weekly Assignment A

Those unfamiliar with the Peterson Heritage Center at the University of Utah might be intrigued by its artistic décor, but regulars see its walls as a living canvas.

Sophomore Michele Smith finds the center’s art, particularly the murals, fun, interesting and creative.  Alternately, junior John Alexander stops short of disliking its murals, claiming, “I’m sure there’s a meaning there, I just don’t know what it is.”

As if to celebrate such diversity in artistic appreciation, students and faculty attended a dedication on Friday, Sept. 18, that would culminate work on a student project that spanned spring and summer semesters this year.

Standing 25 feet high and 30 feet long, “Nexus” is the third mural completed in the center, the first in the dining room operated by Chartwells, an affiliate of University Dining Services.  Apart from providing culinary needs, the center is the focal point of the housing development, once the site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Athlete’s Village.

Evoking the nature of the center in which it was created, the mural is the result of a joint venture between students of the Art and Art History Departments, led by Associate Professor V. Kim Martinez.  The student’s ideas in ART 4180 were presented to the 2,400 residents of Heritage Commons campus housing, who voted on the winning design.

“It’s great to see the space become a place where students can also explore their academic pursuits while others can witness the artistic process and watch the mural grow into a finished piece,” said Mark Morrison, PHC dining director.  “We have enjoyed watching it come to completion.”

Students involved in the project were Hailey Emerson, Lindsay Frei, I-Hsu Fu, Lindsey Howard, Whitney Kevern, Mikey Litizzette, Kyle Odland, Dawn Oughton and Cayley Rasmussen.