Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

 'BONDING THROUGH LIFE'

Purdue Charles J. Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine

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BEYOND THE DOUBT

One day an email landed in my inbox. It was from the Dean of Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine asking if I could do a community mural there about the bond that develops between people and animals. My childhood love of animals flashed images before me, and I felt the familiar warmth of inspiration moving through my body.

I imagined walking down the 90ft. hallway seeing large images of beautifully depicted animals and people from different cultures around the world on the wall. I was eager to show the rich cultural fabrics and colorful garments; exotic animals, production and domestic alike. It would be a merging of people and animals in a beautiful tapestry woven with the bond of human-animal caring that transcended cultures.

When I first visited the campus in the small town of West Lafayette, Indiana, it struck me as a very rural small town. At least, that's how it felt. I thought to myself, 'I could walk this in under an hour'. The area, which was predominantly white, had a strong agricultural history. I wondered, how would I include the different perspectives of the veterinary community there in a way where they could feel represented? Getting there was a journey.

My first night there, I stayed in the school's on-campus hotel. Staff were warm, friendly and welcoming. The school's history was all over; polished brass; a blend of ancient and modern that reminded me of the early 1900's. It was a little unnerving for me at first. As a person of color that was not my favorite era. I felt transported to another place and time. Behind the reception desk, a wall of white blocks in the shape of books filled a wooden bookshelf. The sleek modern look appealed to my senses with a surprising warmth. An interesting blend of old and new. Things were bordered by rich upholstery, textured linens and fabric; everything read plush, elegant; with careful attention to detail. The entry point embraced visitors with a sense of the school's spirit and history. I wondered, where would this journey lead? Where and how would it end?  

The concierge offered me a campus map marked with landmarks of historical significance. I tried to visit as many as I could that evening - the bronze seated statue of the school's founder John Purdue; the Bell Tower; the memory tree; several of its fountains; the student union building. It's architecture and stature reminded me of an east coast Ivy-League school. Grandiose structures of brick with ornate carved wooden doors and marble halls. Yet the warmth and hospitality of the students and staff gave it an almost southern feel.

I struggled to feel like I was still in a small mid-western town. I felt I'd been transported to a portal between the east coast and south. Could the feelings I was having about the conservative appearance have been misgivings? My actual experience running errands in the community was that it was very friendly and welcoming, putting my discomfort at ease.

I was even surprised to see some black people working around town. Turns out the school was pretty international, with a large population of south-east Asian, followed by a smaller number of African or black. In a short time I realized the town does have a very mid-western feel about it. Down-to earth and laid back.

From the paint to the hardware store - as soon as people found out a mural was happening at the University they wanted to know all about it. One guy in line ahead of me at the copy shop visibly lit up when he saw me making the giant blueprint of the design for his alma mater and offered to pay for my order. Another woman in a parking lot of a home improvement store saw the paint-covered scaffolding in my truck and immediately asked to volunteer. Turned out she taught art at the local library. Interactions like this made me feel - as an outsider and a black woman interacting with a majority white community - welcomed and grounded there. I wondered, is this the universal appeal of art? Or could it be confirmation that the art itself is speaking to the community?

There are people I met who stand out because we had the most interaction. Kevin was one such person. As part of the university's marketing department he carried camera equipment and took lots of great photos to document the project along the way. He'd been there from our first planning sessions with the dean and his staff, through the community visioning workshops for the design; to community painting. Along the way he shared insights with me into how he saw the project impacting different parts of the community that renewed my sense of perspective.

For the community visioning workshops, groups of veterinary faculty, students and staff were invited to share their perspectives on the human-animal bond. This time I tried something different, a short guided visualization exercise to help open up their imagination. This being a scientific-minded community, I wasn't sure how it would be received. Despite concerns about participation due to everyone's demanding schedules, it was well attended and received. 

Participants explaining their ideas during a community visioning workshop

It was profound. I mean, here was a prestigious university, busy professionals from diverse veterinary departments who don't often get the chance to work together this way - all sitting together with me, an artist from a different mid-western city in another state. All of us going on a journey together.

Listening to participants ideas during a community visioning workshop

It was heartwarming to hear about their love of frogs, or production animals; or the story of how someone's father in India made friends with a cow to the point this cow showed genuine affection for that man. One woman surprised me with her glee as she joyfully exclaimed how much she loved tree frogs and was super happy to see one I showed from my initial vision. Other stories showed different facets of veterinary community life; from farm animals to the love of 4H fairs among locals; to students interested in international experiences doing research in areas like China and South America working with pandas and other exotic animals. 

Hearing their rich stories showed me how I could add to my original vision and lean into it even more. The colors, beauty, and depth of diversity were inspiring not just to me but others and gave me renewed confidence in our mutual interest in creating a sense of community.

When the college-approved design was revealed to the community, people loved it and even commented how my choice to show the animals and people on the same level – none dominating the other. -represented equality of life, no matter how big or small. This wasn't what I was thinking in designing it; I just thought it was beautiful imagery to show, for example, a desert nomad next to a camel. But this is an idea I've learned is part of the veterinary community's broader values. People shared stories about how they felt personally connected to some of the images. Kevin shared about how his granddaughter named him 'panda' instead of 'Grandpa', so he appreciated having one in there.

People looking at the mural during the mural dedication celebration

During community painting the impactful experience people were having was visible and audible. People liked pointing out the areas they helped paint, no matter how big or small. They looked relaxed; soft but intent expressions on their faces. I could hear an occasional comment of 'this is therapeutic'. Some stayed glued to the wall for hours and came back with friends. I played calming music. 

Listening to their stories grounded and connected us to what was happening. Or, more often than not, listening to the silence in appreciation of a bit of respite from a busy day's work. I felt I could just sit there watching them all day and thought, 'oh my god, I can't believe this is my job'!

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Everybody's inner child seemed to come out. Would you believe how much people's faces light up when they see a part of themselves in the mural? Kevin waited days to get to paint part of 'his' panda' as he called it. Every time he stopped by he would point out the panda, and with a childlike chuckle and grin, joke about how it was the best part of the whole mural. 

Here was a man I guessed to be in his early 60's, white, who understood the intent behind this project in ways I could intuit but had trouble expressing. And yet he looked to me like if he were a stranger seated next to me on a bus, we wouldn't have struck up a conversation, much less in day to day passing. Yet, through this project, the more I talked to him and others – the more I found we could relate to in common and had a shared interest in the purpose behind this work. 

This humble, mundane facet of the project helped me realize that despite our appearances or expectations our experiences can be broken down into our most basic essence as human beings – an essential need to participate as part of something bigger than ourselves; to feel valued, to belong, and to feel cared about. Here, at Purdue, there was a center of research dedicated to the study of the human-animal bond. Here was a group of scientists who understood the impact and importance of something intangible as a bond yet so intrinsic to life that its worthy of study – who could appreciate something as basic as sharing, a sense of connection and togetherness. And now it was displayed so prominently, in life and in fabric, on the wall and in our hearts, as our efforts gave way to new life in the form of a mural – new color and pure joy.

This journey is what makes this work so interesting to me. The path is there in potential and the walk is what makes life so beautiful – because we're human. It's about walking that path and finding others on it with us. Reaching out, a hand reaches back for mine; and then I hear others' footsteps; and many more, and as we look down trying to find our own footing we realize there are actually others with us on the same journey, too. It becomes ours.

That choice to look up and realize that we are not alone. That others recognize the need for this kind of path of community and find strength in it too; the fact they want to join this effort, is remarkable to me. Doors open to new possibilities whenever we take that risk, that's what I'm learning. And on the way, we discover things in common we didn't know were there before. 

*Names are used with permission 

'Bonding Through Life'
2024
90'x8' acrylic on drywall

Purdue Charles J. Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine
625 Harrison St, West Lafayette, IN 47907

Learn more! Links to project documentation, resources

Center for the Human-Animal Bond

90ft long mural seals Willie Reed's Art-Inspired legacy as Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean

Paws Up - PVM Wellness Committee