University of the Ozarks junior Mirian Miralda has discovered a way to combine her love of art with her passion for the outdoors and the campus community is reaping the rewards.
Miralda, an art and marketing major from Comayagua, Honduras, recently completed painting a large wall map mural in the University’s new Ozarks Outdoors space, located in the first floor of the Seay Student Center. The mural measures 8.5 feet tall by 15.5 feet long and features numerous popular outdoor destinations within an hour’s drive of campus.
Miralda, who is a work-study student for Ozarks Outdoors, started planning the mural during the past summer and began painting in early December. She said the mural took about 100 hours — from the design phase to the painting process — to complete.
“It’s my way of contributing to Ozarks, leaving my mark, and fostering a fun connection with the outdoors,” Miralda said. “It is my first mural, but hopefully not the last one. This project holds personal significance as it aligns with my belief in the power of art to evoke emotions. The mural serves as a visual narrative, reminding people of the beauty that surrounds us and encouraging a sense of adventure.”
Darrell Shaw, director of Ozarks Outdoors, knew of Miralda’s talent in art and proposed the idea of the mural to her as a focal point in the new office space that the program was moving into at the end of the Spring 2023 Semester.
“Darrell, knowing I do art, instantly thought about painting a mural in the new office,” Miralda said. “So, we discussed what we wanted to do, and he came up with the idea of having a map showcasing the best outdoor spots around the area. During the summer of 2023, I worked on the design, researched the places, designed the illustrations for each of them, and planned the overall design of the map. Then, starting winter break, I began painting the mural.”
The mural highlights many iconic outdoor recreation spots in the region, including Hawksbill Crag, Falling Waters Waterfall, Strawberry Bluffs, Haw Creek Falls, Lake Ludwig, the Ozark Highlands Trail and Longpool Recreation Area.
“The Ozarks are loaded with waterfalls, rock climbing, hiking, paddling, and biking and this mural enhances the Ozarks Outdoors’ space by highlighting recreational opportunities that are roughly one hour from campus,” Shaw said. “One of the goals of the mural was to showcase these areas and to pique the interest of would-be adventurers.”
Miralda said the most difficult part of painting the mural was “balancing realism with illustration” and that it required a lot of planning and numerous revisions. “It also took me a lot longer to paint than I was expecting,” she said.
Miralda said her interest in art goes back as long as she can remember.
“It all began with drawing and painting as a child, and I became more engrossed in it as I spent more time with it,” she said. “It’s a God-given talent and passion. What I enjoy most about it is that an artist can communicate without the use of words. You can bring to life an imaginary scene or idea and make something that exists only in your mind a reality.”
While her love of art has been a long-time passion, her love for the outdoors is newfound.
“Back home, I never had the opportunity to connect with adventure,” she said. “During Spring Break 2022, I went on a trip with Ozarks Outdoors in which I met adventure and Darrell. His passion for the outdoors inspired me and brought out that outdoorsy and adventurous side of me that I didn’t even know I had. The following semester, I started working for Ozarks Outdoors and had more and more opportunities to enjoy nature. The outdoors is where I discovered a new version of myself and got to see qualities that I never thought I had, such as perseverance and courage.”
Miralda credits her Ozarks professors for helping her grow.
“Their guidance and constructive feedback have pushed me to explore new techniques and ideas,” she said. “The supportive community at Ozarks has fostered an environment for creative growth and the discovery of my place in art.”
She hopes to combine her love for art and marketing into a productive career.
“I’m planning on pursuing my marketing career but also my artistic journey through every opportunity I have,” Miralda said. “In the long term, while I pursue my marketing career, I aim to establish myself as an artist. I aspire to contribute to public art installations and collaborate with communities to bring art into everyday spaces, fostering a sense of artistic enrichment.”