Crafting Community Through Art: A Murals Update

Detail view, north mural of the Lane Community College Health Professions Building by Jessilyn Brinkerhoff (photos by me unless otherwise noted).

Last year, I shared my experience serving on the jury tasked with selecting an artist to create murals for Lane Community College’s new Health Professions Building. I’m pleased to report that the project has come to life in vibrant and meaningful ways.

The jury selected LCC alumna Jessilyn Brinkerhoff, whose proposal (titled Networks of Knowledge) stood out for its thoughtful integration of natural forms, human connection, and educational themes.

Drawing inspiration from her studies in biology and art at LCC and the University of Oregon, Jessilyn’s work weaves together rivers, roots, wings, and fingerprints into a visual language that speaks to growth, movement, and community. 

Mural panels at the Northeast corner and entry portico.

West elevation.

Mural panels at south entry portico.

Now nearing completion, the murals span multiple walls, both interior and exterior, using a complementary palette that harmonizes with the building’s architecture. The result is a series of compositions that are both grounded in place and expansive in meaning.

In-progress view of one of the interior mural panels at the building's Main Stair (photo by Lane Community College). 

As I mentioned in my initial piece about the artist selection process, the architectural team (Robertson/Sherwood/Architects with Mahlum Architects) always envisioned the murals as conceived for, dependent upon, and inseparable from the building and its context. That context includes the Health Professions Building’s function as a campus “gateway.” The north-facing mural catches your attention as you drive along 30^th Avenue. As intended, it and the other panels further reward closer inspection, revealing increased levels of detail while drawing visitors and students toward and through the building. 

I took the opportunity this past week to photograph the nearly complete murals. The images here offer a glimpse into how public art can enrich a campus environment and reflect the values of the institution it serves.