The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission unanimously recommended that the City Commission approve a proposed mural for the new Shabazz Student Center at Nineteenth Street, commissioners said June 18. The commission voted to forward the recommendation to the City Commission, where the item is expected to appear on the consent agenda.

The mural team said the artist is expected in July for roughly a week of work and that the group hopes the mural will be installed in time for the fall semester when students return. The recommendation was approved after a presentation from project representatives and the artist’s portfolio review.

Laurel Schwab of Sabatini Architects, representing the project owner, told commissioners the team submitted a complete packet and that “the goal is to have the artist come, July next month… and get started on it. We'd like to get it installed for the fall semester this year when students come back.” Commissioners asked about the artist’s schedule and logistics; Schwab said the artist will likely work full days over multiple consecutive days.

Rabbi Zalman, who participated online as a project stakeholder, described the mural’s intent and cultural significance, saying the design intentionally avoids depicting faces so it would be “as open, as embracing as possible” to a diverse student body. He added the mural will be the first in Lawrence with a specifically Jewish motif, which he said would contribute to the city’s multicultural public art landscape.

Commissioners discussed publicity and documentation; Schwab said the KU Film School has been hired to document the mural process and to produce a short documentary with student interviews. Commissioners also suggested local media and community promotion to mark the installation.

Commissioner Emily moved to forward the recommendation; Commissioner Tim seconded. A roll-call vote recorded approvals from Tim, Alicia, Monique, Kelly (present/approved), Matthew and others, and the commission passed the recommendation unanimously. Schwab said she expects the item to be placed on the City Commission consent agenda at the next available meeting and that staff would notify the art commission if scheduling changes occur.

The next formal step is the City Commission’s consent agenda review; if the City Commission does not pull the item from consent, the mural approval would proceed without separate discussion. The commission’s vote is an advisory recommendation; final approval rests with the City Commission.