by Michaela Carpenter, Public Relations Writer
Miranda Dyson and her mother, Gina Dyson, both studio art majors at Cedarville University, created a mural for the World War II exhibit of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio.
The exhibit, which opened September 23, explores the many ways African-Americans served the country in the military and at home during World War II. It will be on display through 2022.
Miranda Dyson, a junior, volunteered at the museum over the summer cataloguing items and photographing 3D objects in the new World War II exhibit. She was asked to contribute her own work to the exhibit. After mentioning that her mother was also a studio art major at Cedarville, Miranda was given permission to invite her mom to collaborate on the project.
“I enjoy working with my mom on artistic projects. We have very similar taste, and we bounce ideas off each other well,” said Miranda Dyson. “My mom has more experience with painting, so that helped us out a lot. It was so nice to have a summer project to do together.”
The mother-daughter team spent several weeks creating a mural of a shaded forest that serves as a backdrop for a U.S. Army jeep in the exhibit. This was the first time they worked on a project together, but the experience was a success.
“It was just a lot of fun working and doing something creative together,” said Gina.
For both mother and daughter, art is a powerful way to help people change their perspective.
“Art is important because it’s an outlet for people to experience something maybe from a different perspective,” said Miranda. “It makes you slow down and think about something differently.”
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.