CUW senior Kristen Schueffner is the first student-artist in over a decade to be tapped to create the featured mural for the Mitchell Park Domes.
Schueffner, who is pursuing a degree in illustration and a minor in animation, painted a 24-by-6.5-foot mural to highlight the theme of The Domes’ fall Show Dome: “Mums, Mosses, and Mushrooms.” The fall show opens Saturday, Sept. 25.
Schueffner got the gig thanks to her professor at CUW, Dr. Theresa Kenney, who also serves as president of the Wisconsin Mycological Society. The Domes staff initially reached out to Kenney for her expertise on mushrooms, and Kenney eagerly offered up Schueffner when she learned The Domes’ resident artist had stepped back earlier this year.
“When I was told that the county needed a mural artist for the Show Dome Fall Exhibition I immediately thought of Kristen,” Kenney said. “Her strong illustration and painting skills were a perfect fit, and what an amazing opportunity for one of our CUW students.”
Schueffner, who is from Sheboygan Falls, created the mural over the span of about a month. She used her dad’s auto body shop as her workspace.
“It was kind of fun because my dad’s customers would come in and see me and I’d bring some friends over to hang out with me as I worked,” Schueffner said. “It felt like my little community got to see it take shape and now it’s crazy that it’s going to be on an even bigger stage at The Domes. It’s such an honor.”
Schueffner also played a part in showcasing Kenney’s expertise. Visitors to The Domes are able to pick up rack cards that display fun facts about mushrooms (courtesy of Kenney) as well as Schueffner’s illustrations.
The fall Show Dome opens Sept. 25 and runs through Nov. 7. Visiting hours are Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Masks are required in the Domes. Reservations are no longer needed. Learn more about the show here.
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Concordia University Wisconsin’s Art Department boasts state-of-the-art facilities and a robust slate of programs, including:
- Bachelor of Arts in Art
- Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
- Bachelor of Arts in Illustration
- Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture and Design
- Bachelor of Arts in Photography
- Master of Science in Art Education
The university also has a decades-running collaboration with the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) that allows students to enroll at Concordia and receive all of the benefits of a tight-knit campus community rooted in faith with the added benefits of expanded access to the expertise and industry connections of MIAD professors. Learn more about the partnership and how to enroll by clicking below.
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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