Students to spruce up local business with mural

Construction continues inside the Beeline addition, waiting for painters. Nate Henderson photo

A Troy convenience store is preparing to up its appearance thanks to the help of Troy’s Department of Art and Design.

The Beeline convenience store and gas station is about to begin the construction of a new wall on the property. Thanks to some student volunteers from the Troy University Department of Art and Design, the wall will be painted into a mural after its construction.

“Murals draw in the eye and strike curiosity into the mind, and they make you want to take a closer look at what is all being captured in them,” said one of the volunteers, Ryann Daniel, a theatre major. “They’re also a way to show that the business loves its community and wants to express that; plus, think it helps make a business unique physically and curate its clientele.”

The mural isn’t just about helping the business and giving the customers a better visual experience. For another volunteer, Mia Bell, a junior graphic design major from Phenix City, Alabama, it’s about the people behind the business and supporting them the way they support the community.

“Small businesses are such an important part of Troy's culture, and the families and faces behind them truly are what makes our city so special,” Bell said. “Every experience I have had with the Patel family and all of the employees at Beeline has been nothing short of outstanding, and every time I go in, I leave with a smile.

“The opportunity at hand to possibly have art displayed on one of Troy's most well-known spots is so exciting in itself but knowing the heart of Mr. Ricky and his family, I was not shocked to see that they wanted to involve students to allow us to gain a cool experience.”

The mural will be an extremely collaborative project, between Ricky Patel and his family – the owners of the business – and the many students that will be working together to paint it. For the participants, that collaborative nature is what gives the artwork a deeper meaning in the community.

“I think it is important to allow the university to participate in projects like this because it’s a chance to show the community that it doesn’t take much to come together and create something positive and meaningful,” said Miriam Capps, a criminal justice major. “I also think it’s a great opportunity for me to re-start my creative art process since we will be sketching, drawing and painting the mural ourselves.”

The mural also has the possibility to really help the students along their artistic journey, giving them real world, collaborative experience it’s hard to get elsewhere.

“We have so many dedicated art students, painters, sketchers and designers of all types and giving them real world experience to make a difference in the community will help strengthen their love of creating and help show who they are as artists,” Daniel said.

This opportunity gives them more than experience, though. It gives them professional exposure and credibility as well.

“This is such a big stage for your art to be displayed on, and an experience like this is not one you get very often,” Bell said. “Volunteering to paint a mural for a respected and prominent business such as the Beeline not only puts your art in front of many eyes but also fosters meaningful connections between the artist and the business owners.”