OCCC’s first college mural depicts the Spiro Mounds, part of Oklahoma history. It is located outside the pottery lab on the northwest corner of the Arts and Humanities Building. Former art Professor Paul Ringler came up with the idea to put murals on the walls. Photo by Carrie Cronk
College’s first mosaic remembered
- "The Spiro Mounds" was the first mural to go up
- The original mosaic prototype was proposed in 1983
By Jordaesha Burleson, News Writing Student
This fall, MaryAnn Moore, arts professor, oversaw the mosaic project in Bricktown.
Few recall that the genesis for that project was the work of Paul Ringler, former professor of art at OCCC.
Ringler had an idea to spruce up the walls in the courtyard on campus.
Richard Rouillard, professor of English, was Ringler’s close friend and supervisor from the start of the project.
Rouillard said Ringler wondered, “What could be done to decorate these walls,” Rouillard said.
In 1983, Ringler proposed creating a mosaic prototype on campus.
Moore worked along side Ringler on the project. Ringler was like a mentor to Moore in the production of the murals.
“Paul Ringler is the reason I’m doing mosaics,” Moore said.
With the diligent effort of staff and students, five beautiful murals emerged.
One of the murals, however, holds special significance because it was the first mural to go up.
This mural, “The Spiro Mounds,” was the test mural. It was designed to test the durability of different materials used for the mural.
You can find this beautiful piece of art outside the door of the pottery room of the Arts and Humanities building.
“The Spiro Mounds” is comprised of various types of tile, stone, glass, and even volcanic rock.
“He [Ringler] never intended for it to stay up there … He was basically experimenting,” Rouillard said.
“The Spiro Mounds” mosaic, along with the others, is like a big puzzle with the pieces carefully placed.
The mosaic illustrates a portion of Oklahoma history through a creative art form.
“The Spiro Mounds” piece tells the story of the Mounds civilization along the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers.
The mosaic represents the Spiro civilization that spent their summers in a particular part of Oklahoma to perform rituals.
Now the murals can be described as “The best kept secret in Oklahoma City,” Rouillard said.
Ringler died Nov. 19. 2002, but he is remembered for his way with art and for the understanding he displayed towards his students.
“I call Paul the father of mosaics,” Moore said.
