Women’s work

STAUNTON — A nearly finished mural on a 70-foot wall at Mary Baldwin College colorfully blends images of women in Staunton, the college and the world.

Students taking a class from artist in residence Claudia Bernardi have worked several hours a day on the mural for two weeks.

Former Ireland President Mary Robinson is depicted holding up the cupola of Mary Baldwin. Robinson, Ireland’s first female president, visited the college and spoke in 2005.

Images also show women from India, Australia, Mexico and other countries, and images of the Blue Ridge Mountains and local wildlife such as deer and bear.

The mural is painted in colors of bright red, blue and green.

Mary Baldwin senior Kirstin Holmberg said the project “brings together different ideas” and has been a stimulating collaboration.

Mary Baldwin student Hannah Scott of Richmond said she is “excited to do something that future students and the community can enjoy.”

Bernardi, who is teaching a three-week May term course called “Building Peace,’’ has quietly overseen the student work.

“It’s a story of women in the past, today and from other countries,’’ said Bernardi, who has worked in the fields of human rights and social justice, and has had her artwork displayed across the world.

Bernardi said she has worked to bring a balance to the project by at times asking students to reflect.

“Conceptually, I ask them to take a step back and look,’’ she said.

She said the students have collaborated on an intricate project.

“All the students are willing to come to a consensus on a project quite complex,’’ Bernardi said.

Scott said the mural also reflects the growing diversity on the Mary Baldwin campus.

Two percent of the college’s students are now international.

Mary Baldwin Spokeswoman Dawn Medley said students attending the college now come from Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Zambia, Bulgaria, Germany, India, Jordan, Japan and Korea.