Culver-Stockton senior from Australia captures essence of ‘the Hill’ with mural in Gladys Crown Center

CANTON, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College student Ryan Moore landed on “the Hill” in Canton to play basketball with hopes of gaining graphic design knowledge with his sights set on designing logos.

The senior from Melbourne, Australia, said as he completed the comprehensive classes in his program, he realized his creative talents reached further than mere branding symbols of his artistic abilities. Moore wanted to explore other avenues and travel in different directions. He was surrounded by influential people who have supported his creative aspirations, including his mother, an art teacher and artist in Australia.

As his horizons expanded, Moore began to leave his mark all around the campus. He created banners that hang at the welcome of the Carl Johann Memorial Library and the Herrick Foundation Center. Now, as of October, a more-than-36-foot mural, his biggest design to date, graces a wall in the Gladys Crown Student Center in the heart of the campus.

In a press release, Moore said, “It’s quite amazing. I’m still quite speechless standing here looking at it. It is in a really high-traffic area, and I think almost every student at the college will come through this building once a day. It really fits well in the space.”

Moore’s opportunity to create the mural came from a request during the summer to several graphic design students for a mural that represented the college. Moore said he immediately started to brainstorm a design that would encompass the feel of “the Hill.” After feedback and critiques, Moore’s design was selected, and his art was brought to life.

The mural incorporates several aspects of the college, including detailed depictions of two of the most recognizable buildings on campus — the iconic dome of Henderson Hall and Johnson Hall, the oldest building on campus. The well-known Wildcat mascot, “Wildcat Willie,” is represented in the design at the iconic Tomlinson Fountain, where many new students mark their first day by throwing a coin and making a wish during matriculation. The images are pulled together in bright hues of the college’s colors.

“Seeing it in person, my favorite is the color. The amount of blue just really pops out and adds a bit of energy to what was once quite a boring space,” Moore said. “I love seeing that when I walk past.”

Moore said the style behind his design was to create something that would resonate with visitors and have something to take away from their visit to C-SC. He noted the use of the arch in the design was an important aspect to include because the real arch at the entrance on campus is iconic but hard to represent in photographs during a visit.

“My hope is that visitors and prospective students can come along and stand under here and take photos,” he said. “I also hope it brings a smile to people’s faces when they pass by it.”

Moore said a big part of his inspiration to capture the essence of C-SC in a mural stems from the experiences he has had over the last nearly four years. As an international student, he said, coming to college as a freshman at the height of the COVID pandemic and knowing no one was made easier because of the people he met. He cherishes the chance he has had to form lasting friendships and connections. He said that, combined with C-SC’s experiential learning thought process, contributed to the success of the mural.

Alyssa Hummel, director of communication and marketing, said this mural has been a much-anticipated project for the college.

“For nearly a year, we have been working to identify areas on campus that could serve as interactive photo walls,” Hummel said. “Placing Ryan’s mural outside the dining center was a great place because it is in a high-traffic area and allows us to spotlight the works of our talented students for visitors and current students while sharing components of the C-SC story.”

“It shows they have trust in their students, and the professors are teaching these students. It shows that what they are doing works, and it gives real-world experience to students,” Moore said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity and trust that was put in me by the school to create something that can be long-lasting.”