STUDENTS COLLABORATE ON PHYSICS MURAL

A few weeks ago, the south wall of the introductory physics lab blankly held up the ceiling. Now it bears a figure who skates across a clock, towing the visible spectrum behind her in an artistic celebration of the scientific quest to understand the natural world. The mural is the effort of the Art Club, which hopes it will enliven the work space and draw attention to visual arts on campus.

The group's members are drawn from departments all over campus — humanities, sciences and social sciences are all represented. It is led by Elizabeth Catanese '06, a double major in creative writing and history of art who is enrolled in the College's combined A.B./M.A. program in history of art. Catanese revived the dormant group about three years ago, securing a budget from the Self Government Association as well as a space in the basement of English House for art projects and supplies.

Until now, the members of the group have generally met to work on individual projects, often focusing on a common theme. "For instance, we painted on the topic of aging," Catanese says. "The theme sort of suggested itself when some of the elements of our still life began to wither."

The club has been interested in a larger, more collaborative and more visible project for some time. Early this year, physics major Amie Claire Raymond '05, who had shared a music class with Catanese, contacted her to report a conversation she'd had with Professor of Physics Peter Beckmann.

"We were looking at the lab," Raymond says, "and he said that he wanted to give it a fun, colorful atmosphere. He'd hung some posters, but I thought it might be a good setting for students' art. So I got in touch with Elizabeth."

Catanese negotiated a budget for the project with the Physics Department and the Center for Science in Society. Then came the negotiations about the mural's content and design.

"It's been through many incarnations," Catanese says. "We've had more sketches than I can count — we've been working on the project for about a year." In mid-April, they started painting. Aside from Raymond and Catanese, Shauna Bennett '07, Jen Dodwell '07, Susie Farahat '05, Tara Malone '08 and Amy Rothkopf '07 have donated their skills and time to the project. The group hopes that an intensive session next Thursday, May 12, will put the finishing touches on it.

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