May 15, 2025

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me want to dream.” – Vincent van Gogh

Guided by the vison of their clients—the Delta College astronomy faculty— and under the direction of Associate Professor of Art, Andrew Rieder, art students Marielle Wilson, Morgan King and Rick Taylor collaborated to create a cohesive mural that spans the interior walls of the Delta Dome Observatory.

“We were given very clear directions and there's some mathematics to this too,” shares Marielle. “Any little thing that's off on that chart is going to be noticeable to the students who are studying the solar system. So, there's a little bit of pressure there just to get things perfect.”

The project is a win-win for students and the community as the students strengthen their portfolios through hands-on teamwork and client collaboration, while the mural enhances the observatory experience for future visitors, including astronomy students, faculty, and enthusiasts.

“I think it's a good bridge for our curriculum to play kind of a community service or public outreach role,” says Andrew. “It's what we do here at Delta to get our program out into the public sphere.”

The Delta Dome is located on the west side of the Delta College Main Campus just behind the Athletic Field House (concessions). For information on upcoming public Delta Dome events, call 989-686-9232.

If you’d like to propose a future community mural project, contact Andrew Rieder at andrewrieder@delta.edu

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