SoMAS, CBC Celebrate Student Mural Artist
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) Dean Paul Shepson had a satisfyingly different order of business to add to his agenda at his November faculty/staff meeting when he recognized student artist Norah Allam for the lifelike octopus mural she painted in the Endeavor Hall lobby. The project was completed in partnership with the Campus Beautification Committee (CBC) last spring. And her parents – SoMAS professors Bassem Allam and Emmanuelle Pales Espinosa – were there to hear and take in the praise for their daughter’s accomplishment, as were dozens of other SoMAS staff members.
Speaking of Allam’s dedication to the project, Shepson said, “As most of you are aware, I’m here every single Sunday. I’ve worked every Sunday of my life, since 1982. And for like three months, she’s sitting in a chair or standing in front of that wall, doing what to me is pointillism, with a marker, for hours and hours, for several months. The result is just fantastic, and I know mom and dad are proud. We’re just here to say thank you for what you did to brighten our world, Norah!”
CBC President and Advancement Digital Media Manager Mitch Trinka presented Allam with a commemorative plaque, adding, “This work is truly an emblem of how you all are more than just scientists, right? You’re technologists and poets and artists. And you know that that bears the truth right there on the wall, for everybody to see as they come in this building. You’re such a dynamic group and we’re so happy Norah was able to accomplish her tremendous work of art for you all … and all of us.”
BME Assistant Professor Mei Lin (‘Ete’) Chan also took the ride out to Endeavor to see, for the first time in person, her talented BME student’s work. “It looks even better in person. It’s amazingly detailed,” she said, recalling when Allam had first expressed an interest in creating art to help and inspire others, all in between tackling a challenging double major as an SBU sophomore studying BME and Applied Mathematics & Statistics (AMS), with a minor in Art. Chan added that this type of endeavor fits in perfectly with the types of ‘STEAM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) initiatives she is continuously promoting and collaborating on – including what she labels ArtXSTEM and ArtXBME, with projects coming up in the near future.