Bicentennial Mural

This energetic and brightly-colored mural was commissioned in honor of UNC's bicentennial celebration. It measures a hefty 20 feet long and 8 feet tall; its theme is "community." Renowned artist and educator "Big Al" Carter painted the mural over the course of eight days in November 1992. Carter is an art teacher in Washington, D.C., and has traveled around the country painting large wall murals with the help of children and adolescents. Much in this style, Carter painted the Union mural with around 15 student volunteers. He had some idea of what to paint beforehand, but he let the developing concepts evolve with the collaborative input of the students. While he was in Chapel Hill, he held a drawing workshop with the children from the Campus Y Big Buddy Program, reflecting his special skill of working with young people. Several of Carter's other murals can be found in Washington, D.C., Asheville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Raleigh.