The front office of the Communication Arts department has an artistic flair with its bulletin board art designs. Communication Arts secretary, Patrica McCarthy, has designed numerous displays for all to enjoy as they walk in. 

Three years ago, McCarthy started to design these boards. David Ashton inspired McCarthy after wanting to update the office’s look.

“I think that when this building was new, and I wasn’t a department chair yet, it’s kind of sterile,” Ashton said. “We’re trying to make it a little more lively; to make it look like we live here as students and teachers.” 

For another upcoming creative display, McCarthy had collaborated with the English department team in designing a new Valentines themed display of romance novels.

“I asked the teachers in the English department for their favorite romance novel, and they recommended a wide variety of novels,” McCarthy said. “[I hope] that [students]  [find] new things to read, and they read for enjoyment rather than just for school work.”

Each of these boards are unique, as they are inspired by the time and month of the year.

“It [would] be like February is black history month, so I will keep them up for a month,” McCarthy said. “But if it doesn’t have anything to do with a celebration, then I’ll keep it up for a little longer.”

Her art is also not just to be admired, as many of them are interactive works of art, allowing students and staff to get involved.

“I did one that was a famous first line,” McCarthy said. “It was for communication arts. I had the [quotes], and then you can lift up the paper to find out who said it.”

The creation of the bulletin boards comes with lots of effort. McCarthy creates them each with preciseness and creativity.  

“[Patricia] McCarthy is definitely the hands that do the work,” Ashton said.