A U student-led mural will be showcased in a local gallery in April.
The piece was painted in the College of Social Work on Tuesday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 23. Students had the opportunity to send or email pictures, sketches and other graphics on what they thought represented the mural’s theme, “Local to Global.” Students also had the opportunity to come in and draw something in person and contribute to painting the project.
Each year, the College of Social Work takes students and faculty to refugee camps and migrant communities along the Thailand-Burma (Myanmar) border to train local community members to be teachers and doctors. Ten refugee camps are located in this area, and some people have been living there for about 30 years.
Eight years ago, while visiting the border town of Mae Sot, volunteers met artist and video-journalist Nyan Soe. Last year, Utah artist Hadley Rampton proposed an exhibit consisting of art from the Thai-Burma border from Soe and Thai artist Maung Maung Tinn to be featured in Art Access, a gallery in Salt Lake. The exhibit will be called “On the Border.”
When it comes to the painting, Soe said it’s about “working together and cooperation.”
Rosemarie Hunter, associate professor for the college, said that on the surface, the components of this project seem divided.
“We think we need to focus on the local community or focus on international,” Hunter said. “We tend to think of these as two different concepts and, for me, they’re more the same, more integrated than they are separate.”
Part of what Hunter and her team does is make connections with people living in Thailand, like with Soe.
“Many of the borders we have are man-made borders,” Hunter said. “I hope people look at this and remember we’re not separate, but connected.”
After the exhibit, the painting will be hung up in the college of social work building for anyone to see. Art Access is located at 230 South 500 West #125, Salt Lake City, and “On the Border” will be held until April 8.
@SidneyMarchant