BOONE, N.C. — Residents at a retirement and assisted living community in Boone are observing the artistic skills of one Appalachian State University student in real time — from the vantage of their own windows.

As part of her internship at the facility, App State senior Mary Carver Deal, of Charlotte, is the primary painter of a colorful mural on a wall outside Appalachian Brian Estates. Her idea for the mural originated as a way to engage Appalachian Brian Estates’ residents in a cognitively stimulating project, as many haven’t left the facility’s grounds since March 2020 due to COVID-19.

Deal, who is double majoring in psychology and art and visual culture with a concentration in studio art, aspires to be an art therapist after graduating from App State, working with older adults to slow the progression of dementia and other ailments they may experience.

As part of her mural project, Deal created a questionnaire asking residents what local flora and fauna they would like to see incorporated into the mural. While numerous residents have been actively involved in the mural planning for months, Deal wanted to be sure less vocal residents also had a chance to contribute.

“The unusual challenges presented by doing this project during a pandemic have enabled Mary Carver to devise ways to overcome the hurdles of limited access. There are numerous ways in which access to art can be limited, so problem-solving in this situation has expanded Mary Carver’s ability to consider ways to overcome barriers as she moves forward,” said Deal’s site supervisor, Jennifer Van Gilder, a speech-language pathologist and clinical educator in App State’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Deal coordinated two teams of volunteers to prime and help paint the wall, including some of her student peers in App State’s on-campus Dementia Awareness Club.

Van Gilder, who also serves as Deal’s Dementia Awareness Club sponsor, said club members conducted several projects at the facility pre-pandemic.

“The respect that Mary Carver, student volunteers and Dementia Awareness Club members showed regarding the need for safety protocols was priceless in promoting a positive view of Appalachian students in the community,” Van Gilder said.

To pay for the paint, Deal held a fundraiser for her birthday and raised enough to cover approximately half of the project. She is brainstorming how to fund the balance.

Appalachian Brian Estates is keeping one apartment facing the wall empty so residents can view the painting process if they aren’t able to see the project from their own room. The facility’s staff is also exploring how to livestream the painting to residents in their apartments.

Deal plans to add additional details and plants to the mural during the spring semester, ideally completing the project before summer.

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Psychology (BA)

The Psychology (BA) degree prepares students with a general knowledge of psychology, critical thinking skills, communication and writing skills, and data analysis – all of which can be applied to entry-level employment or graduate education.

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Art and Visual Culture (BA) - Studio Art

Students pursuing the Art and Visual Culture (BA) - Art History degree acquire a strong understanding of art history and visual culture on a global scale. They become familiar with the history of materials and image-making technologies and are able to critically consider their own artwork and scholarly research in conversation with a broader history of image-making.

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About the Department of Art

One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Art at Appalachian State University prepares students to explore art, identity, expression and creative problem-solving while challenging them to go beyond their previous limits by discovering new connections to culture. The department offers degrees in art and visual culture, art education, graphic design, studio art, photography and graphic communications management, with minors in art history, studio art, photography and graphic communications management. Learn more at https://art.appstate.edu.

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts

Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu.

About the Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology

Appalachian State University’s Dr. Wiley F. Smith Department of Psychology serves more than 1,400 undergraduate majors seeking the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, as well as 90 graduate students across four graduate programs: experimental psychology (MA), industrial-organizational psychology and human resource management (MA), school psychology (MA/SSP) and clinical psychology (PsyD). Learn more at https://psych.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About the Beaver College of Health Sciences

Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS), opened in 2010, is transforming the health and quality of life for the communities it serves through interprofessional collaboration and innovation in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical outreach. The college enrolls more than 3,600 students and offers 10 undergraduate degree programs, nine graduate degree programs and four certificates across six departments: Nursing, Nutrition and Health Care Management, Public Health and Exercise Science, Recreation Management and Physical Education, Rehabilitation Sciences, and Social Work. The college’s academic programs are located in the Holmes Convocation Center on App State’s main campus and the Levine Hall of Health Sciences, a state-of-the-art, 203,000-square-foot facility that is the cornerstone of Boone’s Wellness District. In addition, the college supports the Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness and has collaborative partnerships with the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program, UNC Health Appalachian and numerous other health agencies. Learn more at https://healthsciences.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.