Miami, Oxford debut student-led mural at Duke Energy’s local substation

After a semester of work, a class of 17 Miami University art students completed the first part of a mural at Duke’s Locust Street substation.

Michael Stillion, an associate teaching professor of studio art at Miami, led the mural painting class and focused this semester on painting winter and spring seasons on the western half of the substation wall. He aims for the larger, eastern end of the substation wall mural to focus on summer and fall seasons – a project that will begin in spring 2027.

In 2025, the Public Arts Commission of Oxford (PACO) saw the mural Stillion's class of 15 students painted in Newport and approached them about collaborating on a project in Oxford. 

Toward the beginning of the semester, members of PACO met with students in the mural classes to hear their ideas on the mural.

The completed half of the mural features leafless winter trees, birds, deer and deer hooves, which change into silhouettes of butterflies as the mural’s focus shifts to spring. The spring section features a raccoon, squirrel, bright colors, flowers and many bees that highlights the city’s rich history with beekeeping. 

The class worked on the mural over 14 two-hour sessions during the spring semester. The mural was completed during the first week of May.

Stillion shared that the support he and his students have received from the community has been greatly appreciated.

“People pull up and (are) honking and yelling words of encouragement,” Stillion said. “It really brings the community together.”

Amber Franklin, chair of PACO, emphasized the importance of this collaborative project with the city, Miami and Duke Energy.

“It really shows the benefit of a liberal education,” Franklin said. “(The mural painting) class has students from different majors around the university, collaborating and doing research … to put this all together. It’s just a joyful contribution to the city.”

Duke Energy awarded $10,000 for supplies and equipment for the class to complete the project – each section of the mural received $5,000.

Lila Tangorre, a freshman communications design major with minors in studio art and arts management, was one of the students who contributed to the project.

Tangorre said her favorite part of the process was designing the mural.

“(We) started ideating and coming up with imagery that was related to Oxford,” Tangorre said. 

Tangorre said working on a mural was something she had always wanted to do, and found the process rewarding. 

“It was a really, really great time and I think it turned out wonderfully,” Tangorre said. “I’m so happy with what we produced as a class.”