"Fading Footprint at Mesa" - Rachel Goetz

I would like to propose the instillation of this mural on the Mesa College Campus. I was intrigued by Barbara Kruger’s Another, in that she created a space that was aesthetically pleasing, while functioning as being informative. This piece attempts to embody both art and purpose, while also signifying a lifestyle shift. In a world where there is overpopulation, pollution, and climate change, living an environmentally conscious lifestyle is of increasing importance.

In this mural, the footprints and phrase “reduce your footprint” call upon the cultural knowledge of the “green” movement. Though this phrase has almost become noise of little substance through its overuse, I thought that having footprints on the ground that a student could follow would individualize the experience and bring a different slant to the importance of having a “reduced” lifestyle.  I also thought that having immediate ways of partaking in this lifestyle, such as the recyclable trashcans to the right, would instill in the viewer that making “green” choices can be easy.

Therefore, I think that installing this mural would be a benefit to both the campus and the viewer because it creates a visually interesting space, demonstrates a message, and challenges the person walking in the footsteps.

- Rachel Goetz