As part of The Gund’s effort to get Kenyon’s students involved with art on campus, The Annex hosted a mural workshop on Friday. The event was spearheaded by Wynne Morgan, coordinator of engagement and public programs for The Annex, and Columbus-based artist Raeghan Buchanan, whose work focuses on comics, illustration and murals.

Buchanan began the event with a short lecture on collage artist Romare Bearden’s work. Participants went over his life, inspirations and art, as well as specific pieces of Bearden’s. The idea of the event was to use inspiration from Bearden’s work to create new art that paid homage to both his use of the abstract form and color.

“Every semester we take inspiration from an artwork from the permanent collection of The Gund. This semester it is a collage artist named Romare Bearden… We’re looking at his practice and inspirations that he took from living in Harlem and jazz,” Morgan explained.

After the talk from Buchanan, participants were instructed on different methods of painting murals, including the use of spray paint, acrylic and markers. There were spaces set up inside and outside The Annex for participants’ use. A wide range of supplies were included that allowed people to get truly creative. Additionally, there was a focus on the use of stencil. As Bearden is known for collage work within his murals, the use of stencils allowed the art created at The Annex to have the same creative and intentional overlapping common with the medium.

This experience quickly became collaborative and featured lively conversation about different techniques. Almost every participant created at least two pieces, if not more. Some used layering skills, while others opted for simpler designs. Color use also ranged, even including one participant’s brown drips, courtesy of his half-drunk coffee.

Buchanan, an established artist herself, continued around the space offering advice. By the end of the workshop, the participants had created almost 30 pieces. Morgan informed attendees that some participant designs would have a home hanging on the walls of The Annex for the time being.

The workshop at The Annex was both successful and enjoyable. Morgan emphasized that this event was not one of a kind and encouraged all students to either attend future events, or simply visit the space whenever they feel like it. The warm Sunday afternoon was filled with art and learning.