A group of students from the National Art Honor Society at Archmere Academy helped renovate the Mary Campbell Center in north Wilmington this summer. A mural designed by residents was installed in the Charmie Welch Hallway of the center, a long-term care facility for people with disabilities.
The 90-foot-long mural was created in phases over the summer by various community groups. The initiative was led by Stephanie Welch Silverman, Archmere’s director of art and design, an Archmere alumna (class of 2000) and the granddaughter of Mary Campbell Center co-founders Charles E. and Charma Welch.
The mural features the contributions of the center’s residents, Welch family descendants and Archmere art students, according to Silverman. Residents created abstract paintings in watercolor and acrylic using adaptive art tools and techniques. Each painting was photographed, digitally composited in image editing software and then combined with original digital flower photos that served as a unifying visual element, Silverman said.
She added that the mural “represents a colorful metaphor for growth and beauty and is a testament to the center’s ongoing commitment to meaningfully engaging residents in the life of their community.”
The Mary Campbell Center opened in 1976 on a 10-acre site near the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. It provides care for 68 full-time residents and also offers respite care, day programs, and events, clubs and summer camps for children and young adults with disabilities. Funding comes from Medicaid, private sources and donors.
Kelley Franklin, the center’s interdisciplinary program manager, emphasized that the Mary Campbell Center is home to the residents.
“Our team places great importance on providing residents with tools, time and techniques to participate in enriching art projects like this one,” she said. “They loved the creative process, sharing the experience with their Archmere friends and the opportunity to help decorate their homes.”
Silverman said her greatest privilege as an art educator is being able to tap into the creative potential of her students. She has had the opportunity to teach all age groups and those with special needs.
“I wanted to collaborate with the residents and showcase their skills by directly involving them as co-creators and full and equal participants in the creative process, especially since the finished artwork would become an integral part of their homes and daily lives,” she said.
She also saw the project as an opportunity for the art honor society students to serve as leaders of a new artistic community. In April, Archmere students led a painting workshop with residents, including creating adaptive paint brush holders using a 3D printer at the Mary Campbell Center.
Jace Walker, a rising senior at Archmere and president of the Art Honor Society, had a personal interest in the project.
“The project was very special to me because my little brother has Down syndrome and one of his favorite things to do is drawing and art. I think art is a perfect way for anyone to express themselves,” Walker said.
In addition to the Mary Campbell Center residents, the following Archmere students participated: seniors Carrie Wiig, Kaia Yalamanchili, Maddie McCarrin, Camily Alvarez, Justin Flenner, Sophia Chen, Grace Chen and Bella Hughes; rising seniors Walker, Melissa Doig, Natalie Skelly, Caeli McAlonon, Julia Krajewski and Richie Anguillo; and incoming freshman Sophia Silverman.
They were joined by several members of the Welch family. In addition to Silverman, family members in attendance were: Mary Beth Welch, Pat Dunn and John Welch, three of Charles and Charma’s children; son-in-law Gary Dunn; grandchildren Justin Dunn and his wife Nichole Williams Dunn, Taylor Dunn and his wife Maggie Wood Dunn; Nathan Dunn’s three children; and great-grandchildren Sophia Silverman, Alice Dunn, Keilan Dunn, Kyson Dunn, Ildiko Dunn, Emile Dunn and Charma Dunn.
A reception was held on August 20 to celebrate the installation of the mural.
