Project Director

Vogel, Christina

Department Examiner

Hungenberg, Erin

Department

Dept. of Art

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

This thesis explores how participation in a high school mural club influences students’ sense of personal identity and community. By creating and leading a mural club, I guided students in designing and painting murals around their school and extending this work into the local community, all focused on how students defined themselves within the context of the school’s motto: “A Star is Rising”. I used qualitative methods including surveys, observational notes, artist statements, and visual documentation to examine and analyze how students experienced identity and collaboration throughout the process. The findings show that the creation of these murals provided students with a meaningful space to express themselves, develop confidence in their artistic skills, and build stronger connections with their peers and school environment. Overall, this project demonstrates the power of student art experiences in supporting the development of adolescent identity and shared purpose.

Degree

B. A.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts.

Date

5-2026

Subject

Art--Study and teaching (Secondary); Identity (Psychology) in adolescence; Community and school

Keyword

art education; adolescent identity; mural; collaboration; identity; community

Discipline

Interactive Arts

Document Type

Theses

Extent

i, 63 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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