“The Secret Life of Vineyards” is a 6’ tall and 10’ wide ceramic mosaic mural created by UC Davis students in Entomology 001: Art, Science and the World of Insects during spring quarter 2023 and community members from Davis, Woodland and Napa. Highlighting the biodiversity within and around a sustainable vineyard, this mural is a wonderful example of student learning and expression resulting in artwork that educates viewers long after class is over. Installed at Matthiasson Winery in Napa. (Photo by Tim Carl)

“Salt, Fog, and the Life Beneath” is a 5’ tall and 15’ wide ceramic mosaic mural created by UC Davis students in Entomology 001: Art, Science and the World of Insects during fall quarter 2024 along with community members from Davis. Highlighting the ecology of coastal California, this mural shows how much students learn about nature's complexity and how to provide a visual narrative. The mural is installed on the UC Davis campus behind the UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery, adjacent to the Climate Adaptation Living Laboratory garden led by Dr. Emily Meineke. (Photo by Tiffany Dobbyn)

“Nature’s Gallery Court” reveals portraits of drought resistant plants and associated insects that can be found in the Ruth Storer Garden in the UC Davis Arboretum. This monumental mural was created by students in Entomology 001: Art, Science and the World of Insects during spring quarter 2007 and community members from Davis. This mural shows the tremendous learning students and community members attain when building a large-scale public art project. Although it weighs more than a ton, this mural traveled to the First Lady’s Garden (Capitol Mall, Washington D.C.) where it was for nine months. After returning to Davis, the mural was highlighted in the UC Davis Centennial celebration at the State Fair and ultimately permanently installed between the UC Davis Arboretum teaching nursery and Shield’s Oak Grove. A testimony to how student learning is extended to the community, Nature’s Gallery Court is a beloved gathering place for people enjoying the arboretum and it often used to photograph special occasions, from proms to weddings to family gatherings. (Photo by Katie Hetrick)