From classroom to canvas: WSSU students take their shot at honoring NBA star Chris Paul

When city and county officials hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 23 for a mural honoring hometown hero and retired NBA superstar Chris Paul, some Winston-Salem State University students will be in attendance — for good reason.

Art majors Isabella Como, Corey Cuthrell, Lanyjah Gunter and Zaria McGill worked as paid interns alongside nationally known artist Brian Peterson to create the mural at Rupert Bell Park.

They were encouraged to apply for the opportunity to work on the mural by Hye Young Kim, an assistant professor in the Department of Art and Visual Studies. Kim, who serves as the department’s art internship coordinator, learned about the opportunity from Thom Huang, principal and owner of The Urbane Artist, an established artist representation and management agency based in Pasadena, California.

The mural is an initiative of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Art Commission and was funded through the Choice Neighborhood Revitalization Public Art Project in partnership with ASPIRE (formerly the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem) and the City of Winston-Salem.

Kim said Huang wanted WSSU students to participate in the mural project because Paul is a WSSU alumnus.

Known to basketball fans as “CP3,” Paul grew up in Lewisville, just outside Winston-Salem, before starring at Wake Forest University and embarking on a 21-year NBA career. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Winston-Salem State in 2022, but his connection to WSSU extends well beyond his degree. His parents, Charles Edward Paul and Robin Jones, are WSSU alumni, and he grew up attending Rams football and basketball games.

Paul has long described WSSU as near and dear to his heart. With parents, cousins and other family members who attended the university, supporting the Rams has always been second nature to him. That lifelong connection has fueled his commitment to historically Black colleges and universities through initiatives that elevate HBCUs on the national stage. He executive produced ESPN’s “Why Not Us” documentary series highlighting HBCU athletics and founded the Chris Paul HBCU Tip-Off.

Paul is expected to attend the ribbon cutting.

Huang, who interviewed six WSSU students before selecting four to work on the mural, said invitations have also been extended to WSSU’s women’s and men’s basketball teams.

Como and Cuthrell said they’re excited about the ribbon cutting, which some of their relatives plan to attend.

Both described their work on the mural as rewarding but physically demanding at times.

“The work was physically a little bit harder because we were constantly on our knees, but we had the equipment to at least make it as comfortable as possible,” said Como, who transferred to WSSU as a junior. “We were laying down trying to get good angles and washing the equipment when we were done. We put in eight hours per session.”

Cuthrell agreed with her assessment.

“It was a lot of prep work, and we were out in the sun,” Cuthrell said. “It was really hard on my knees, but I really enjoyed the experience. When it came to actually doing some painting, it felt more like a job and became more enjoyable.”

Huang praised the students’ work, noting their contributions extended beyond painting.

“They were also heavily involved in masking the basketball court before painting, and as anyone who has painted their house knows, the masking is the time-consuming part, while the actual painting goes quickly,” he said.

Kim said she is proud of what her students accomplished, particularly the initiative they demonstrated in pursuing the opportunity.

“For me, the most meaningful part is that they applied on their own, went through an interview, were selected and completed the internship from start to finish,” Kim said. “They also gained real professional experience by working alongside a nationally recognized artist, which I believe will give them the confidence to apply to more internships and jobs in the future.”

The students’ participation in the mural project also aligns with We Are Winston-Salem, one of the four pillars of WSSU Chancellor Bonita J. Brown’s strategic plan, “We Are Rising 2030,” Kim said.

“Our students used their art skills to give back to East Winston-Salem, the community around our campus, and to honor Chris Paul, a WSSU graduate and local hero,” she said. “The mural will stay in the neighborhood for years, showing that WSSU students are part of this city and help shape it.”