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Poetter Hall was purchased by the SCAD founders in March 1979. Classes began in September of that year.  
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The Arts

Mural project is on the road again

“Vista Mural”

“Vista Mural” by Cynthia Huff is on display through Feb. 17 at Alexander Hall Gallery.

By Hannah Pittard
Published: Friday, January 23, 2004

On the road to continuing her teaching career with a position at Savannah College of Art and Design, Cynthia Huff stopped in the Ozarks for a few years, working at Chase Studio in Cedarcreek, Mo., a major exhibition design studio specializing in environmental science installations.

At the time, Huff said her interest was less in the environment and more in the job itself. “I just wanted to paint,” she said. “But I learned so much about the environment and natural history —gobs of information… I am much more interested in my surroundings now.”

In 1993, Huff began working on “The Rolling Rainforest,” a three-year project commissioned by the Discovery Creek Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C., and contracted through Chase Studio. Copies of Huff’s murals were installed inside a commercial truck trailer in order to tour the country after being exhibited at Discovery Creek.

Now a color theory and mural painting professor in the foundation studies department at SCAD, Huff is interested in exposing her students to the possibility of careers as muralists. “I want them to know that mural painting and painting dioramas are viable career options,” she said. To that end, Huff has arranged with Chase to have her original rainforest murals exhibited at SCAD. The show will also include photographs of the original installation process.

Huff said that, although she loved painting murals for Chase Studio, she eventually tired of living in such a remote place. Giving herself over to teaching completely, Huff said she doesn’t have time for her own murals anymore but is optimistic about eventually sending a few of her students to Chase Studio. “[Mural painting] is a specific career,” she said. “It’s not something many people have heard of before.” Huff said she was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of her students when she told them about the approaching exhibition. “I expected them to say, ‘What is that?’ I didn’t expect enthusiasm.”

“The Rolling Rainforest Mural Project: The Making of a Diorama Mural” is on display through Feb. 17 at Alexander Hall Gallery, 668 Indian St. The exhibition will be featured at the college’s monthly gallery hop Feb. 6, 5-7 p.m. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.