After viewing the Runquist murals at Knight library, I got a better understanding of what is the meaning of Public Art. According to Doss, he described this term in his article “Public Art Controversy: Cultural Expression and Civic Debate” that ”Public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is acquired through public or private funding. Public art can be a sculpture, mural, manhole cover, paving pattern, lighting, seating, building facade, kiosk, gate, fountain, play equipment, engraving, carving, fresco, mobile, collage, mosaic, bas-relief, tapestry, photograph, drawing, or earthwork”(Page 2). Public art can be found everywhere around us in the campus. It serves as a public media with a specific intention that can be accessible to all. It is used for public occasion for people to appreciate by the specific meanings it carries.

In terms of civic improvement, I think public art is the best pathway for people to get understanding about the history or cultural background of civilization, thereby help civic improvement through the use of public art. As demonstrated by Runquist two murals, it describes the development of art and science through a special mode of art expression. It uses a tree mode as a clue to drive the main direction of the development of sciences and arts, and emphasize the representatives in each period of the development process. This is a very interesting way to tell the story of arts or science, since it is easy for me to find out important steps that push us to get today’s achievement. Public art like this form can help us to receive, appreciate, remember and then spread the information easily. Thus, help people in civic improvement. Just as Doss states, “public art was a form of civic improvement and could help generate a shared sense of civic and national identity”(Doss,4). We will all get a sense of pride after viewing these two murals, and sign with emotion that how many efforts human being have made that drive us to today’s development.

In terms of civic identity, I think Runquist murals can convey positive information and sprits of the University of Oregon to its students. The murals try to convince people to be educated in a more well-rounded way and produce values to society after graduating, This information also stands for the values of University of Oregon, what it wants to tell all students. Another example of civic identity of Public art I can think of is the “Statue of Liberty” with a coded meaning of freedom in this sculpture. It is a symbol of American and the statue can encourage people from diverse backgrounds to chase freedom and pursue their own dream.  According to Doss, “public art can play a central role in shaping and directing community identity—as seen in the heated discourse over Danzas Indigenas. Public art has the unique potential to encourage multiple American publics to tell their stories—and to listen to others” (Doss,11).

The Runquist murals in our knight library well illustrated the history of both arts and science, astronomers, biologist, mathematicians etc, are all involved in these murals and these disciplines are also the foundation of our university. These two murals can be viewed as best “public arts”, which can represent the essential values of our university.