Nora Smith - 2026 Intern

I was initially drawn to PACT because it combined a medium I love—art—with the opportunity to do something impactful for Geneva.  I also appreciated that the community would not just experience the finished work but also have a role in creating it. I have always found projects like this inspiring because there is something so meaningful about people coming together to make a place they love feel more like home, not only by transforming the space itself, but by doing so alongside people they care about.

Still, even with my idealized view of community projects, the idea of working on a mural with people of different ages and skill levels felt daunting. I have found that one of my vices is being hyper-independent; when I do something myself, I know the standard I want and thus can better predict the outcome. This project would force me to give up some of that control. I found, however, that this was at no compromise to the final result, and instead was necessary to the mission of the project.

My embrace of collaboration began with the fact that Uphold was based on another artist’s design (the very talented Tsioianiio Galban). Because of this, I sometimes felt unsure on how to capture and respect her vision best. How could I make a wing appear more dynamic or give form to a hand in the way Galban had sketched it? Being able to rely on her and the rest of the mural team really helped me work through questions like these.

Working on the mural also taught me to make peace with my standards, or what some might call "perfectionism.” When you are standing only a few inches from the wall, certain brushstrokes can feel like an “oops,” something my research partner, Ella Rhodes, had to hear vocalized many times. Yet, once you step back, you realize you have communicated exactly what you needed to. I think that is part of the beauty of mural painting and one of the reasons it works so well as a community project—you do not need to be the most technically skilled artist to contribute.

I found this also holds true because painting itself is very forgiving. Most mistakes can be corrected, blended, or painted over. Almost nothing is permanently “damaged”—unless it is a sentimental hat. Sorry again brother Pultinas; those paint stains are forever.

Still, mural painting this summer served to be a friendly reminder to have faith in myself, others, and the process because, in the end, everything will work out. Developing this sense of trust helped me recognize how accessible projects like these can—and more importantly, should—be. The finished mural becomes more meaningful when it belongs not just to one artist but to all the community members who have a hand in creating it.

So yes, bird murals were in for 2026, but no matter the subject, I hope future public art projects continue to invite everyone to take part.

Ella Rhodes - 2026 Intern

When I first read the pitch for the 2026 PACT Summer Research Internship, I was immediately excited at the chance to spend my summer in the Finger Lakes working on a community art project. When I later spoke with Professor Michelle Martin-Baron about PACT, I was both impressed and inspired by their stated mission and past projects, and I submitted my application for the project that day.

In the early stages of the research program, we traveled to speak with a member at Ithaca Murals, who graciously and eagerly gave us a long tour of many works of art throughout the city. Seeing an urban space decorated with vibrancy and creativity on every corner was an incredible experience, and definitely made me look forward to adding new artwork to Geneva.

Although I would call myself an artist, I do most of my work on digital programs and in my spare time, so working on the 2026 mural “Uphold” was a completely new experience in terms of schedule, scale, and medium. I had the benefit of doing a little “test run” while working on the Kingfisher mural with Victor and the Girl Scout Troop 60441, where I learned a lot—like how paint colors mix differently than pencils and markers, or how keeping lines straight on a textured surface takes focus and a slow hand. The most important lesson was trusting the people I was working with: I couldn’t supervise or micromanage every inch of the Kingfisher on my own, so I learned to concentrate on painting what I could to the best of my ability and have confidence that everyone else would do the same.

Though this prior experience was useful, painting “Uphold” was still an entirely different process. For one, my research partner—Nora Smith—and I were working much more closely together, and with less creative input/supervision since the artist—JoJo—could not be present at the site every day. The design was also much larger, so we spent the entire first day chalking out a large grid and then chalking out the mural elements themselves. It was difficult to translate an image from a piece of paper onto that large of a canvas, but the vision really came together once the first layers of paint went on. Every day the mural looked better and better; as silly as it sounds, I really learned to “trust the process” while working on this one.

Finally, it was truly a privilege to see how much kindness and joy the mural inspired, both throughout its creation and at its completion. Those who helped paint laughed and chatted with each other day after day, and strangers and friends would stop by to ask about the mural’s message or congratulate us for such a feat. Working with PACT has redefined the way I view community and connection.

Cori Chapman - 2025 Intern

Before I got to campus for this research mentorship, I had a vague idea of what this summer would be like. I had a pretty strict idea of what the process of painting the mural could be, but as soon as I arrived, I was completely wrong. This project had many faces, with many different designs on various walls. One of the most important things I learned during this experience was how to improvise under short notice. The final product of this mentorship experience was very different than the original plan was. But, with the help of the community and people that support the mission of maintaining public art in Geneva, we were able to make something just as impactful. 

Although I came onto the mural team as an interested art student that wanted to be a part of the public art scene in Geneva, I left feeling like I was truly a member of the community. I am originally from Los Angeles, so I do not really get the “small town where everybody knows everybody” experience often. But during the process of painting and planning the mural, I was able to meet some really cool people. The biggest part of the summer, in tandem with the mural, was being able to work with local teenagers in the area throughout the whole process. A good number of them were with us in the beginning stages, before we even knew what wall we were painting on and what exactly we were painting. They all came from different backgrounds and walks of life, and it was so wonderful to see such a diverse group of kids all working with the goal of amplifying the public art movement. They stuck through all the tediousness of scrapping and priming and stayed all the way to the end. I know if I was their age, and I was able to paint a mural and have my name on that wall, I would never shut up about it.

Even though there were times where I didn’t think things would work out, that all our hard work would go in vain, we stuck to it and pushed through adversity. In the end, we came out with an amazing mural and a crazy story to tell.