Art student paints ocean mural

Sophomore Gabby Seider prefers painting on her own.

But during her class-free second summer session, Seider donated her time and art to the UNC Family Medicine Center, whose youngest patients were eager to assist.

A bright seascape mural now covers two walls in the center’s waiting room, making the harsh, bland walls more family-friendly.

The idea for the mural came from clinic manager Susan Baize. She wanted the white, empty waiting room walls to create a more welcoming atmosphere for the clinic’s patients.

After receiving Seider’s sketches in response to an art department listserv request, Baize was immediately impressed by both the artwork and Seider’s eagerness.

“She sketched the second half right in front of me, on the wall,” Baize said.

She said people’s reactions were immediately positive.

“The patients loved watching her,” she said. “It was pure entertainment to watch as the mural grew.”

Rodney Mangum, financial counselor for the clinic, agreed.

“She brought so much pleasure to the patients,” he said.

Seider used wall paints without volatile organic compounds, which allowed the center to stay open while the mural was being painted.

Working during business hours gave patients and nurses the chance to interact with Seider as she painted. Children visiting the clinic often asked to help.

“One little girl said she’d like to paint on the wall, too,” Seider said with a laugh. “She totally expected to be able to.”

This was not the first mural for Seider. She has painted several murals for her church, including a commemorative logo at a mission site and a paint-by-numbers template for a Christmas card project.

Making murals is a different experience than creating small paintings, Seider said. Smaller pieces allow for more detail but usually get sold. But it’s the murals that last.

“The thing I love about the mural is that it won’t end up in an attic somewhere,” Seider said.

Seider, a studio art and chemistry major, seeks out ways to meld her diverse interests. She experiments with chemicals to find new paint colors and has often wanted to work with fireworks.

Seider looks to the kinetic art of the Swiss artist Ralfonso for inspiration, she said. Ralfonso’s work was featured at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

“It’s a bunch of hoops and balls balanced,” she said. “I’d like to make something like that, where the physics are so perfect that it doesn’t seem like it could work out, but someone thought about it enough that it does.”

At the clinic, employees still feel her cheerful presence.

“I just couldn’t believe it turned out like that,” said Lonetta Love, a patient business associate at the clinic. “I really can’t believe it.”

Contact the Arts Editor at arts.dth@gmail.com.