City, OSU, Students Celebrate Stillwater's Food Culture with New Mural
"Stilly Fresh" Selected as Newest Addition to Downtown Public Art Display
Art & Culture
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In the March 24, 2025 Stillwater City Council meeting, four Oklahoma State University art students presented their mural designs for consideration in the Chris Salmon Plaza art project. Their submissions showcased creative interpretations of "Stillwater Foodways" as this year's theme.
The winning design, "Stilly Fresh" by Katie Reynolds, was unveiled Friday afternoon in a ceremony at Chris Salmon Plaza. The design will join two existing student murals in the downtown pocket park.
"This is our third year in doing this," says Meghan Brasuell, General Manager at Prairie Arts Center, who introduced the students and their professors.
The visual thinking class from OSU's art department, taught by professors Marika Christofides and Elena Masrour, guides students through research and design processes focused on local food culture.
"Foodways is a broad term that encompasses the cultural, social, and economic practices surrounding food," explains Masrour. "Everything from traditional recipes to current agricultural practices."
Students research Oklahoma food history and important local institutions including the Stillwater Farmer's Market, Our Daily Bread, and the OSU Student Farm before developing their designs.
Reynolds' winning "Stilly Fresh" mural celebrates Stillwater's rich foodways by showcasing vibrant locally grown produce available at the Farmer's Market and Our Daily Bread.
"My goal with this design is to highlight the abundance of fresh seasonal ingredients with elements of Oklahoma's natural beauty and paying tribute to the land and the farmers who cultivate it," Reynolds told the council in their March meeting.
Her design features the Indian blanket flower as a focal point, incorporating Oklahoma's state fruit—the strawberry—along with tomatoes, watermelons, and raspberries. The design also includes honeycomb patterns with honeybees, representing Oklahoma's state insect and highlighting the importance of natural pollinators.
"Through this mural, I wanted to inspire the Stillwater community to embrace local, fresh food and appreciate the hard work of our farmers," Reynolds said. "By supporting local food systems, we not only nourish ourselves, but also strengthen the connection to the land and the people who cultivate it."
The other three student designs each offer unique perspectives on Stillwater's food culture.
Olive Price, a freshman at OSU, presents "Roots and Recipes," featuring swirling patterns that symbolize the roots of local food traditions and Oklahoma's ever-present wind.
"Every detail in this design was chosen to reflect the connection between the people of Stillwater and the food that brings us together," Price explains. "I wanted to express the food in a way of sharing history and that brings people together."
Her design includes key produce such as wheat, tomatoes, and peppers, along with abstracted kitchen utensils and street signs representing the Farmer's Market and Our Daily Bread.
Mars Mojica's "Heart of the Community" focuses on Stillwater's agricultural history and community connections.
"My interpretation of Stillwater foodways was focused on the community and the way the area's agricultural history has shaped the thriving diversity of Stillwater," Mojica says.
The design features a large carrot at its center, representing Oklahoma's fertile soil and agricultural heritage, with stylized human figures arranged in a circle to symbolize community strength and collective action.
Mojica incorporates subtle diamond patterns inspired by Native American art to honor tribal contributions to agriculture, with flowing lines representing how agricultural knowledge passes through generations.
Molly Maxson presents "Cowboy Cabbage," celebrating local produce from the Stillwater Farmer's Market.
"The market is incredibly important to those who participate and provides a place for residents of Stillwater to interact with each other and stay involved in their community," Maxson said.
Her playful design features cabbage plants wearing cowboy hats, representing the hard work of local farmers, with a tomato slice as the sun surrounded by carrot rays.
"I think it makes the cabbage stand out and maybe it will encourage children who see the mural to eat their veggies if they associate them with something silly and fun," Maxson explains.
A message from Visit Stillwater
The original home of Red Dirt Music is ready to boot scoot and boogie this April. Stillwater is filled with outdoor activities, live music festivals, art, and so much more this month!
The Chris Salmon Plaza mural project continues to enhance downtown Stillwater while providing OSU art students with real-world experience and community engagement opportunities.
Previous student murals already on display include "Building Sunshine" by Carlee Roddy, which incorporates elements referencing Chris Salmon's career as an architect and interior design professor at OSU, and "Flying to the Future" by CiCi James, depicting a bird's eye view of Stillwater.
The plaza serves as a vibrant public space showcasing student creativity while honoring Chris Salmon's legacy as Stillwater's first female mayor and celebrating Stillwater's unique cultural identity.
Watch the presentation to City Council
Members Discussion