Latest News
Student Dominique Clarke paints mural as part of massive regeneration project
Tuesday, 6 January, 2015 — BA (Hons) Game Arts student, Dominique Clarke, spent around three weeks at Margo's – a community cafe that provides various training and support for those in need – painting a large mural with the help of volunteers. We spoke to Dominique about her experience.
<p><strong>When BA (Hons) Game Arts student, Dominique Clarke, was asked to design and paint a large mural in a local community cafe, she jumped at the chance to get involved.</strong></p>
<p>The mural was done as part of the huge regeneration project going on in the Mount Wise area, in coordination with the <a href="http://www.shekinahmission.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shekinah</a> group.</p>
<p>She was asked to be involved when owners Andrew and Summer put out a call for a local artist to paint a mural that showed a map of the local area.</p>
<p>Dominique spent around three weeks at the deli – a place that provides various training and support for those in need – painting the mural with the help of volunteers. We spoke to Dominique about her experience.</p>
<p><strong>How did you get involved with this project?</strong><br />I got involved through a friend, she introduced me to Shekinah – a local charity involved in helping ex-offenders, homeless and young people get qualifications and work – who were helping to find an artist to work on the project and do the design for the mural.</p>
<p><strong>What was it like working with the charity?</strong><br />It was great as they really help people and it was lovely to work for them. I was briefed on the project by them and then the company <a href="http://www.mi-spaceuk.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mi-Space</a> – who were funding the project – made sure I had everything I needed such as paints and brushes etc.</p>
<p><strong>What made you go for the commission?</strong><br />Well I like to try different things, it was for charity and I was happy to help. It was also a good opportunity to work on something I had never done before.</p>
<p><strong>Was it a lot of working solo?</strong><br />For the most part, I had to organise with the client and work closely with him on the design in the beginning. I did have another person working with me, but he dropped out of heading the role so I took on his responsibilities. In the end I worked closely with Michelle from Mi-space, Laura from Shekinah and Andrew who owns the cafe, to get the mural up and finished.</p>
<p><strong>You went for quite a stylised approach,</strong><br />The style was based on L.S. Lowry’s work, Andrew suggested it and it’s really vibrant so adds a warmth and inviting feel to the place.</p>
<p><strong>How do you feel about the whole experience?</strong><br />It was difficult, I had to organise most of it myself and I had never done a mural before, so the challenge of taking a picture and putting it onto the wall was an interesting experience. I was also in charge of a group of volunteers on the day and that was something else that I had never done before. But if I was given the chance I would do it again because it was such a great learning experience.<br /></p>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-animation-games" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more about our BA (Hons) Game Arts programme</a></li></ul>
