A group of students from the National Art Honor Society at Archmere Academy helped with a makeover at north Wilmington’s Mary Campbell Center this summer. A resident-created mural was installed in the Charmie Welch Hallway at the center, which is an intermediate long-term care facility for people with disabilities.
The mural, which measures 88 feet in length, was created over the summer in several phases by a variety of community groups. The effort was spearheaded by Stephanie Welch Silverman, the chair of the art and design department at Archmere. She is also an Archmere alumna, Class of 2000, and the granddaughter of Mary Campbell Center co-founders Charles E. and Charma Welch.
The mural features the contributions of residents at the center, descendants of the Welch family and Archmere art students, according to Silverman. The residents created abstract paintings in watercolor and acrylic using adaptive art tools and techniques. Each painting was photographed, digitally composited in an imaging software, and then combined with original digital photographs of flowers, which functioned as a unifying visual element, Silverman said.
She added that the mural “provides a colorful metaphor for growth and beauty and is a testament to the center’s continuing commitment to engage residents meaningfully in the life of their community.”
The Mary Campbell Center opened in 1976 on a 10-acre campus near Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. It serves 68 full-time residents and also provides short-term respite care, day programs, and events, clubs and summer camps for children and young adults with disabilities. Its funding comes from Medicaid, private sources and donors.
Kelley Franklin, the center’s interdisciplinary programs manager, stressed that the Mary Campbell Center is the residents’ home.
“Our team makes it a priority to provide the tools, time and techniques to enable residents to be a part of enriching art projects like this,” she said. “They loved the creative process, sharing the experience with their Archmere friends, and having a hand in decorating their home space.”
Silverman said that as an art educator, her greatest privilege is to tap into the creative potential of her students. She has had the opportunity to teach across all age groups and those with special needs.
“I wanted to collaboratively engage the residents and showcase their abilities by directly engaging them as co-creators and full and equal participants in the creative process, especially since the final artwork would become a feature in their home and daily lives,” she said.
She also saw the project as an opportunity for the students in the art honor society to serve as leaders for a new community of artists. In April, the Archmere students led a painting workshop with the residents. One of the things they did was create adaptive brush holders using a 3D printer at the Mary Campbell Center.
Jace Walker, a rising senior at Archmere and president of the art honor society, had a personal interest in the project.
“The project was very special to me because my little brother has Down syndrome, and one of his favorite things to do is draw and create art. I think art is a perfect way for everyone to express themselves,” Walker said.
Along with residents of the Mary Campbell Center, the following Archmere students participated: graduated seniors Carrie Wiig, Kaia Yalamanchili, Maddie McCarrin, Camily Alvarez, Justin Flenner, Sophia Chen, Grace Chen and Bella Hughes; rising seniors Walker, Melissa Doig, Natalie Skelly, Caeli McAlonon, Julia Krajewski and Richie Anguillo; and incoming freshman Sophia Silverman.
They were joined by several members of the Welch family. In addition to Silverman, the following family members took part: Mary Beth Welch, Pat Dunn and John Welch, three of Charles and Charma’s children; son-in-law Gary Dunn; grandchildren Justin Dunn and his wife Nichole Williams Dunn, Taylor Dunn and his wife Maggie Wood Dunn; the three children of Nathan Dunn; and great-grandchildren Sophia Silverman, Alice Dunn, Keilan Dunn, Kyson Dunn, Ildiko Dunn, Emile Dunn and Charma Dunn.
A reception to celebrate the mural’s installation was held on Aug. 20.
