The Coquina Club – known as the campus’ mysterious, once-bustling “recreation space” has been vacant and essentially abandoned for years.
While not as popular as it once was, the club is still considered a recreational area.
The building is adjacent to the pool and packed with billiards tables, arcade machines and T.V. sets.
To liven up the space before it gets remodeled, USF St. Petersburg graphic design students have been painting a mural on the interior south wall. Ian Thurau, Jennifer Holcomb, Patrick Henderson and Rachel Clemson have worked on the mural piece for the past four months.
The project was scheduled to be completed by April 11, USFSP Week, but has taken longer than expected. The wall is currently about 95 percent finished.
Holcomb described it as “an abstract wave pattern with chalkboard circles weaved into the design. At the center there is a hand lettered piece typeset in a white circle.”
Students are invited to draw in the chalkboard circles to add to the mural.
As of last week, the mural was about 95 percent complete. The “abstract wave pattern” symbolizes where the Bayboro Harbor meets the campus grounds.
“The Coquina Club is for everybody,” Holcomb said. “It’s a space for students to relax, and we wanted to give those students an outlet to leave their own mark and really make the space theirs.”
Ann Wykell, coordinator of places, spaces and public art at USFSP, helped organize the effort. She said the mural will be an ever-evolving concept and may require a new student team to update the artwork in upcoming semesters.
Wykell has also scheduled a pop-up outdoor lounge on Bayboro Harbor lawn. The event aims to encourage students to use the campus’ recreational facilities and will feature food, refreshments, sidewalk chalk art, games and music.
“Students can see the potential in that space (Coquina Club) now, the mural has really brought that out,” Wykell said. “And all of those areas are connected, it’s one big relaxation and recreation corner.”
This was the first mural created by the graphic design students, and Holcomb said the project was a lot of work.
“It was daunting to start,” she said. “But we are happy with the final product and what we all accomplished.”
The Pop-up Outdoor Lounge will be held on April 26 at Bayboro Harbor side lawn from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Coquina Club is open to the public and connected to the campus pool, both are available to students during operational hours.
Coquina Pool Hours
Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m to 2 p.m & 4-7 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.
Coquina Club
Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
what a nice content