Hear the Curator (PP639)

Odili Donald Odita’s mural Up and Away spans two floors in the common room of Butler College. Color and shape play a central role in Odita’s mural: his palette is bright, almost psychedelic, and the composition brings life and dynamism to otherwise static white walls. Odita says that he was inspired by the design as well as by the function of the building. He was particularly interested in creating something conducive to the activities that occur at Butler, such as studying, communicating, and living. As a whole, the mural suggests an energy rising through the building, a force moving up the stairs toward the door. The title Up and Away is both optimistic and aspirational. It might make us think of abstract concepts like growth and flight or such concrete references as Superman. Ultimately, Up and Away refers to the experience of a student who, upon learning, leaves for higher pursuits.