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MVC in Bloom Mural

About the Mural

In September of 2022, the School of Visual and Performing Arts and the MVC Art Gallery received a Century Circle Grant through the RCCD Foundation to support the production of a campus art mural at the College.

Painter, muralist, and MVC alumna, Rosy Cortez, completed a new mural at MVC, titled MVC in Bloom, which covers the walkways leading up to the Humanities Building.

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Front facade of the Humanities Building

Location

The mural runs across the concrete panels that surround the main stairway of the Humanities Building, which has high visibility from campus entrances at College Drive and Krameria Street.
Front facade of the Humanities Building with digital concept of mural

Concept

Cortez has developed a design using bold colors, patterning related to the various areas of study at the College, and imagery representative of native flora and fauna from the region. Taken together, these pieces speak to the joy, connection, and growth that individuals achieve in the pursuit of higher education.

Community Participation

Mural production took place between March 27 and April 10. You're invited to attend the upcoming Mural Opening Reception on May 18.

Thank you to our amazing community members!

Members of the MVC and Moreno Valley community were invited to make their mark on campus by participating in Community Paint Days. Thank you to those who assisted with the production of our new campus mural. You've made your mark at MVC!

Mural Opening Reception

Please join us for an opening reception on May 18, 4 - 6 pm, with artist Rosy Cortez to celebrate the completion of a new mural on the MVC Campus. Art + Music + Light Refreshments. See you there!

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Timeline

  • September 2022: RCCD Century Circle Grant secured

  • October 2022: Artist Rosy Cortez commissioned

  • November 8, 2022: Campus Site Visit and Meet-and-Greet with Cortez

  • February 28, 2023: Campus Townhall to announce the mural design

  • March 27–April 10: Planned Installation Period

  • April 1 and 2: Community Paint Days

  • May 18, 2023: Mural Opening Reception at 4 pm in Coudures Plaza

About the Artist

Artist Rosy Cortez in front of the El Trigo mural in Riverside, CA
Artist Rosy Cortez in front of the El Trigo mural in Riverside, CA.

Rosy Cortez is a painter and muralist based in the Inland Empire. She completed some of her earliest art classes at Moreno Valley College in 2012 before transferring to California State University, Long Beach to finish her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in figure painting. She is a member of the artist studio Eastside Arthouse and is a leading figure in the mural renaissance underway in Riverside, CA. Her work has been exhibited at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and is held in a number of private collections.

Cortez's Portfolio Cortez's Instagram

Adding to MVC's Campus Story

Moreno Valley College's existing public art consists of sculptures depicting the mountain lion mascot and three colorful, hand‐painted tile mosaics donated by local artist, Timothy L. Taylor, in 1998. These artworks are all installed at the front of campus, indelibly marking MVC’s connection to and appreciation of creative expression. The remainder of campus is a blank canvas, ripe for new and engaging visual storytelling.

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Collage of photos of bronze mountain lion statues, campus plants in full bloom and the Taylor mosaics
MVC's public art includes bronze mountain lion statues, beautiful landscaping and three hand-painted tile mosaics.

Acknowledgements

The Mural Project is support by an RCCD Foundation Century Circle Grant in collaboration with the Office of the President and the MVC Art Gallery.

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