Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Around the West Virginia Wesleyan College campus, many might know Sheri Gaudet as Aladdin Dining Service’s Catering Coordinator. When Gaudet isn’t serving up meals, she is sharing her talent and passion for art with the college and Buckhannon community.

During Wesleyan’s spring break, Gaudet spent five days splashing colorful images on the college’s game room walls of the Benedum Campus Center. The new mural created by Gaudet was commissioned by Julia Keehner, vice president for student affairs, and Alisa Lively, director of campus life, to give the game room more life.

“My passion is to take a plain wall and create something special for an individual or group,” Gaudet said.

Part of Gaudet’s mural in the Benedum Campus Center is a large “Bobcat-opoly” board, which replaces the traditional Monopoly streets with Buckhannon and Wesleyan-related names.

Gaudet, who is originally from Richmond, VA, has been employed with Aladdin at Wesleyan for seven years. She holds a bachelor of arts from the Virginia Commonwealth University, and paints in her free time in memory of her mother and grandmother.

Other work Gaudet has painted throughout the Wesleyan campus includes the bobcats on the gymnasium floor, basketball locker rooms, the golf room and Keehner’s office.

In addition to her work at Wesleyan, she has painted several other murals throughout the Upshur County area. Gaudet is the artist behind murals at The Daily Grind, the Rocky Ford Church, a retirement home, and several other locations.

To commission a painting by Gaudet, she may be contacted at 304-439-0517.