HOMECOMING '98: SCIENCE BUILDING MURAL TAKING SHAPE AT SOUTHEAST

Grant Lund sat alone with his paints and brushes on the cold concrete of an isolated entryway to the university's science building. Occasionally a student or faculty member would stop by, watch him paint and move on.

The commissioned mural Lund is painting on the wall at Rhodes Hall of Science is a chance for him to bring together the worlds of art and science. If the weather cooperates, Lund should complete the first stage of mural this week.

When completed next spring, the mural, which was commissioned as a part of the university's 125th anniversary celebration, will depict images of black holes, the swirling mass of a brightly colored nebula and the origin of the universe.

It is not a scientifically accurate depiction of the universe's origin, said Lund, an art professor at Southeast Missouri State University. It is what he calls an artistic conceptualization of what the process of creation might have looked like.

"If something is too realistic, we tend to lose it," he said. "If it is too close to reality, we are impressed at the beginning, but then draw away, but if we look at it and see differences, we come back again and again."

In the midst of it all is the renowned physicist Stephen Hawking.

Lund chose Hawking because of the contributions the physicist has made to the understanding of the origins of the universe.

"While in college, Hawking was not only considered a genius but also something of a playboy," Lund said smiling.

But just before he graduated in the early 1960s, Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gerhig's disease. He was given just two years to live.

"After the disease he could have felt sorry for himself or he could do something," Lund said. "He got married and continued his work. Now people rank him with Einstein."

Lund used Hawking's best seller, "A Brief History of Time," and a video about him to get his inspiration for the painting. A quote gleaned from the book's conclusion will be included as a part of the mural. It reads:

"Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing? If we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we will all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason."

A final phrase at the end of the quote -- "for then we would know the mind of God" -- will not be included with the mural because members of the College of Science and Technology considered the phrase too controversial.

Lund, who designed the mural in the city of Jackson and who designed and painted the Faulkner mural in Kent Library, was first approached about doing artwork for the science building a few years ago. The newly appointed chair of the physics department, Dr. Michael Cobb, approached Lund about the sparseness of the science building and the possibility of bringing art into the hallways.

At first the two discussed a series of black, white and gray paintings of famous scientists to adorn the walls of Rhodes. But then, they decided to move the painting outside to the northwest entrance and to bring color to it.

Lund said he thought the project had died until Dean Chris McCowan of the College of Science and Technology was looking for a project for the university's 125th anniversary celebration.

The mural, more than just a painting, will become a point of departure for other academic inquiries, Lund said. A university studies course on science and religion is planning already to use the mural to discuss the origin of the universe and the creation process from differing perspectives.

The mural, which was begun in September, should be finished next spring.