MURAL TO DEPICT STEPHEN HAWKING

A mural Dr. Grant Lund is painting at Southeast's Rhodes Hall will depict physicist Stephen Hawking, a contemporary scientist who has succeeded in capturing people's imaginations despite a severe disability.

The mural is an attempt both to dress up a drab building and to make a statement about the creativity of science.

"People have the idea we're kind of dull and focussed on our work," says Chris McGowan, dean of the College of Science and Technology.

"That's not the case. Scientists are very creative people."

The mural will include a quote from Hawking's best-selling book "A Brief History of Time."

"Why does the universe go to the bother of existing?" Hawking wrote.

"... However, 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 shall, 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."

McGowan credits Dr. Michael Cobb, chairman of the Department of Physics, with initiating the project to enliven the building with art. Cobb writes an astronomy column for the Southeast Missourian.

Cobb calls Hawking "a person of contrasts. I think Grant is trying to portray that in his mural."

"... Although physically limited, mentally he travels to places that most of us have trouble comprehending."

One panel of the mural shows Hawking's hands operating the voice synthesizer he uses to speak. The other depicts the disabled physicist and the Lagoon Nebula, one of the sites where new stars are being born from molecular clouds. Scientists have been able to study the nebula with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Lund began painting the mural last fall on a retaining wall outside the northeast entrance to the building. The wall is not visible from the street but the mural would be seen by students who enter or exit the building there or use a patio area next to the wall.

The wall is 7 feet tall and 23 feet long.

The mural is scheduled for completion in April to coincide with the performance at the university of the Cleveland Dancing Wheels, a dance troupe that includes people with disabilities.

A round-table discussion involving Lund, biologist Alan Gathman, Andy Pratt of the Baptist Student Union and philosophy professor Dr. William McKinney will be held to celebrate the mural's dedication.

Lund, a longtime art professor at the university, designed the large mural on the square in Jackson and painted the William Faulkner mural inside Kent Library.

The Hawking mural currently is in limbo because acrylic paint and cold weather or moisture don't mix. A recent attempt to apply some of the stenciling pulled part of the painting off.

"It's not in good shape right now," Lund said. "I've got to repaint it."

McGowan said the mural may have to be moved inside the building because of the paint's susceptibility to moisture. Dirt on the other side of the retaining wall is providing the moisture.

"We may not be able to get the paint to stick correctly," he said.