PHOTO: Image shows a hawk painted on a white wall with a green banner above the hawk saying "Home For Hawks." Photo courtesy of Matthew Perry. — Perry and Davis saw the mural as a way to add art to the campus while also encouraging the passions of its students. Photo courtesy of Matthew Perry.

PROFILE: Jacq Garcia makes Hunter Hall a home for Hawks

By Alex Moore On Oct 14, 2020 220 0

This mural greets residents and visitors alike as they ascend the stairs at Hunter Hall, UHCL’s first housing facility on campus.

The mural of Hunter the Hawk is not only special because it is UHCL’s first mural, but it is also the work of UHCL’s own, Jacq Garcia. Resident advisor Jacq Garcia is a studio art major with a concentration in printmaking and a minor in art history and Latin and Latinx studies.

“I have been interested in and creating art since I was young,” said Garcia.

Garcia wrote a proposal and submitted it to Student Housing and Residential Life Director Matthew Perry and Residential Life Coordinator Cierra Davis.

“Jacq had the idea to just add art to the building and it was something Sierra and I were thinking about because we are big supporters of the arts and we thought, ‘what a better way to decorate the white walls of the building than by promoting student art from the students that actually live there?” said Perry.

“I had been wanting to make a mural and was bouncing off the idea with Matt and Cierra, they let me know that I could write up a proposal along with a sketch,” said Garcia.

The proposal was approved, and Garcia began working on the mural.

Jacq began prepping and working on the mural as soon as the approval was sent though.

I have been wanting to do a mural for a while. I saw there were no murals anywhere at UHCL,” Garcia said.

Over the next few weeks, Garcia began prepping and working on what would soon be the first mural at UHCL. In total it took about 36 hours to complete over three weeks.

This mural was made with the purpose of making everyone feel like they are welcomed and home.

“[This mural] is a continuation of the “Home For Hawks” series,” Garcia said. “This is to show UHCL; specifically Hunter Hall, as home to all residents.”

Garcia’s mural could be the beginning of student art popping up around UHCL. If so, the lack of murals and other art fixtures around campus could be a thing of the past. UHCL is receptive and open to students wanting to diversify and beautify the campus. Garcia has shown that all it takes is the drive, and a little paperwork to begin making UHCL’s campus more of a home to student art.