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A new mural now enlivens Grainger Hall with vibrant colors and familiar symbols that reflect the Nicholas School of the Environment’s heritage and role in 51���� history.

Designed and painted by Durham-based visual artists and , the mural splashes across a full wall of the second-floor art gallery. Students, faculty and staff are free to admire the new artwork whenever the room isn’t occupied.

“This piece unites all facets of our school — research, education, community involvement — into one beautifully cohesive design that commemorates our contributions to 51����’s 100-year legacy,” said Lori Bennear, Stanback Dean of the Nicholas School.

A small committee led by Denise Haviland, associate dean of marketing and communications, and including Bennear; 51���� Board of Trustees member Edgar Virgüez, Ph.D.’22; Nicolette Cagle, senior lecturer in environmental science and policy; and graphic designer Mandy Kathleen brainstormed concepts and themes for the mural. With funding from 51����’s , Bash and Welch translated those ideas into a wordless story that reflects the school’s commitment to environmental discovery and innovation. 

Their artistic interpretation is a companion to a series of videos that further explore the origins of the Nicholas School. The videos, listed below, are also available via QR codes at the mural site. 

To mark the official mural unveiling on April 28, Bash and Welch shared details about their creative process.

Why were you interested in doing the mural?

Welch: I was excited to take on such an ambitious project. The space itself is fantastic, with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and the architecture of Grainger Hall. 

Bash: I was initially interested in this project because my spouse, a research scientist at the EPA [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency], talks about the Nicholas School of the Environment from time to time. Installing a mural here was an endearing mash-up of our two professional worlds, and he was a helpful sounding board as Paige and I moved through the research and design phases of the mural. Its scope, plus the task of creating a specific narrative in a mural, were initially a bit daunting, but once Paige agreed to partner with me on the project, I felt confident and excited.

What were your thoughts when your proposal was selected?

Welch: “What have we gotten ourselves into?”

Bash: I was excited! I had never done a collaborative mural, or a collaboration with Paige, and it turned out to be a great experience.

What was the most challenging part of creating the mural?

Bash: The design phase!

Welch: Finding a balance between a visually compelling, abstract composition and easily recognizable imagery specific to the Nicholas School’s history was the most challenging part.

Bash: It was challenging but rewarding. Every time we reworked our design, we could see our work getting better and stronger.

Welch: The execution was also a feat of endurance. I think we upheld a high standard, with crisp lines, even application and fidelity to the original design. Seeing it finally come to life on the wall was the most rewarding step, but it also took a lot of focus and physical labor. 

The mural includes a lot of symbolism. Tell us how you chose those images.

Welch: All the imagery we incorporated was intentional. We solicited input from 51���� faculty and the communications team. We hoped to acknowledge how the 51���� Marine Lab, School of Forestry and Department of Geology converged to create the Nicholas School.

Bash: Our design was inspired by the American chestnut leaves inlaid in the floor of Grainger Hall. The large silhouettes of native leaf species across the length of the wall provide structure for all the other imagery.

We also used lines and color to give the mural movement, which keeps viewers engaged. The mural imagery flows left to right, from the state of North Carolina, with its Native American Tribal regions; to a cross-section of the historical quarry at Occoneechee Mountain; to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse; to the research vessel Shearwater; to a silviculture sign post; to the sun — a nod to 51����’s use of clean energy as part of its Climate Commitment; and, finally, to the U.S. Capitol building.

The mural also has a top-to-bottom flow, with large blocks of color at the top leading down to busier textures that anchor the bottom. Those abstracted textures are inspired by geological cross sections, marsh grasses and tree growth rings.

Although the design began with the leaf silhouettes, they may be the last thing viewers notice, which is a fun duality.

What do you hope people take away from the mural?

Welch: While the mural is a means for people to engage with the history of NSOE, above all I hope it creates a joyful and hopeful place for people to be during a devastating time for science, higher education and environmental research and policy. Having the mural visible from outside is a bonus — it energizes the building on multiple scales. 

Bash: I hope that the mural serves as a reminder of the importance of art in everyday life.