Titled “Germination,” this mural on the side of the School of Education building is a tribute to present and future educators.
Ȧ unveiled a new mural in June called “Germination,” arguably the largest piece of public art on campus at 36 feet tall and 15 feet wide and almost certainly the most visible. It graces the exterior of Horace Mann Hall, home of the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, and looms on the horizon as visitors come up College Road from the Fruit Hill entrance to campus.
Designed and painted by Lena Mac, a western Massachusetts-based artist whose work also adorns the exterior of Tiny Bar in Providence’s Jewelry District, the mural serves as a tribute to education and future educators on campus. It seeks to celebrate growth, learning and transformation – the core elements of teaching.
As Mac explains, “The idea behind ‘Germination’ is to be a portal of light and joy, representing the act of teaching.”
The imagery suggests that growth is a shared (often never-ending) journey: students start as seeds and are nurtured by educators until they evolve into independent learners. The germinating seed at the base, blossoming into a lotus at the top, represents the wisdom and compassion one gains through education.
“Germination” invites passersby to reflect on their own journeys of growth. Commissioned by the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, it was funded under the state law allocating one percent of capital construction and renovation funds for public art. This initiative not only uplifts the campus environment but also highlights the importance of public art in fostering community.
The author of this piece, Ella Lebel, is a senior majoring in English with a concentration in professional writing.