COMMUNITY OUTREACH: DLE INTERN’S PAINTBRUSH BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER

By Viktoria Majcher, Social Media/Marketing Intern, Senior at Marist College, majoring in Communications (concentrating in Advertising and PR) and Fine Arts

At the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester, I was selected to paint a mural for the Fishkill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Beacon, NY, a facility located less than an hour’s drive from my college.

A first step on the project was to meet with residents to discuss ideas of what to paint on a 7.5 foot wall. The brainstorming session made it very clear to feature the scenery of the beautiful Hudson Valley.

After completing various sketches of prominent, regional landmarks in the Hudson Valley, the mural’s final design emerged. Featured images include the Moodna Viaduct bridge over the Hudson River and the beautiful Catskill Mountains. Special touches include flowers for springtime, butterflies for summer, leaves for fall and snow for the winter. The finished work took nearly 40 volunteer hours over five days and five gallons of acrylic paint. This project was designed for this senior home as a form of art therapy by bringing smiles through colorful images of outdoor scenes. I am a firm believer that art can stimulate happiness, just by looking at it. It has been a truly meaningful experience to help people at the Beacon facility come together as they transition into their new home.

Viktoria working on the mural painting

Completed indoor mural at the Fishkill Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, located in the lower Hudson Valley of New York