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After the last brush stoke, some of the volunteer artists
and CSM staff enjoy a moment together |
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Ryan Foster, artist extraordinaire,
exhibits his painting skills and
hands-on leadership alongside
the student team of artists from
the University of Montevallo |
After painting the front interior warehouse wall white to brighten up the space where we held the
lunch event with Noel Castellanos, we began to see the huge white wall as a perfect palate for a mural that could welcome and inspire all the volunteers who come to CSM. It seemed like a dream to imagine it could happen before the “summertime volunteer rush,” but God had already made a way.
Ryan Foster is a friend of CSM, a nationally recognized fine artist, a faculty member of the University of Montevallo Art Department and has formed an mural painting collective call MORII (which means: the desire to capture a fleeting moment) with current and former students. Ryan secured a grant in the spring to purchase all the needed paints and equipment for a rather large MORII mural project that was to commence after the end of the semester. But that project fell through, and MORII was able to divert the grant to our project and get started right away.
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Tracy extending a hand of friendship
to Steven, one of the students who
spent his week working hard to
help bring this creative vision to life |
After Ryan and his artist wife, Ashley, met with Tracy and Jamie to hear how CSM is a force for change and the Gospel in Birmingham, Ryan went right to work creating designs for the 17' high by 48' long wall that would speak to the heart of CSM. We landed on a design that incorporates stylized clouds, reminiscent of Renaissance etchings and cloud studies. The cloud imagery speaks to our vision for transformation and desire to see the Kingdom. In a surreal fashion, two hands dripping with life reach toward each other in the foreground, becoming one in unity as they touch. A ribbon floats from above reading, “Reconciliation: To invite into friendship” and gives the observer a clue into the reason why CSM works so hard to create lasting change and authentic relationships.
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| The incredible UM mural team with Ryan and Ashley Foster |
This was the fifth mural completed by the group and the largest to date. Participating students include: Emalee Butler Arroyo, Krisalyn Hammond, Steven Mark Finley, Cheyanne Smith, Kyle Limerick, Joanna Edmonson, Hannah Irelan, Caity Headley, and Hunter Vroonland.
Here is a peek behind the curtain as the project got underway and was completed in four days! Please come by to see and experience our new mural. (For more information, contact
judy@csmission.org or follow Morii Collective on Instagram.)
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| Ryan and Ashley Foster (soon-to-be first-time parents!) |
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| CSM Staff happy to experience the mural and the artistic hands of friendship |
