Sullivan paints lasting tribute to MCC’s global connections
Artist Jennifer Sullivan stands in front of the mural she painted that now resides on the hallway wall of the new Mennonite Central Committee resource building in Kidron.
Jennifer Sullivan, a native of Dalton, has always enjoyed using her gifts in the artistic world to paint. However, she recently tackled a project that was much larger than anything she had done before.
With the completion of the new Mennonite Central Committee material resource building in Kidron, Sullivan was invited to paint a mural depicting all the global connections MCC has in reaching out to the world with aid.
The large mural in the hallway leading to the office area of the facility depicts numerous people from around the world enjoying and utilizing the many advantages provided to them through MCC, like running water, food crops, comforters and more.
Sullivan and Sarah Doerksen, MCC Great Lakes Ohio material resource coordinator, sat down and poured over hundreds of photos, in an effort to pick the pictures that most accurately defined MCC’s global outreach ministry.
“That wasn’t an easy process because MCC works with people all over the world,” Sullivan said. “But the main purpose was finding photos that perfectly show everything MCC does.”
Once that was done, Sullivan’s task was to take those photos and put them into place on the mural.
“I have always done regular-sized paintings, so this was something very new to me,” Sullivan said. “When Sarah and I were working on designing this building, she kept saying that she wanted this mural. After much prayer and consideration, I told her I would do it.”
With the photos chosen and having sought and received approval from MCC, Sullivan knew she wanted to implement bright, inviting background colors to begin the project.
Sullivan then enlarged all the photographs in her basement and stenciled the larger images onto the mural wall.
Then began the daily painting process, which lasted nearly two months as she began bringing each figure to life.
“It was a challenge, but it was a true labor of love,” Sullivan said.
One by-product of the mural was something Sullivan said she wasn’t aware would take place. As she brought each person in the mural to life, she said she began having a feeling of connection with each one of them.
“I think it provided a real sense of compassion for each of these people and made me very grateful for everything we have here,” Sullivan said. “I spent so much time painting them I felt as though I actually had this unique connection with them.”
In creating this mural that will now share the lives and accomplishments of people from around the world whose lives have been impacted through MCC’s efforts, Sullivan has developed a greater appreciation for each one of those people depicted in the mural, even as she has painted something that will serve as a lasting tribute to MCC’s mission.
“It’s a beautiful work of art that we are proud to have as part of our new facility,” Doerksen said. “Jennifer has painted something truly wonderful that will be treasured forever.”