A Welcoming Place

On the third floor of Posner Hall on Carnegie Mellon University’s campus, visitors can find themselves “In the Footsteps of a Stranger.”

Created by Angelica Bonilla “A.B.” Fominaya (CMU 2023), the artwork was commissioned by CMU’s Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics (LCAL) as part of the Center for the Arts in Society’s Hospitality Initiative.

“Small interactions can create big impacts, and our responsibility as human beings is to realize that we’re not the only ones out there,” A.B. says. Through her art, she embodies this ethos, inviting us to embrace hospitality and kindness as guiding principles in our interactions with others.

A.B.’s partnership with LCAL stemmed from her undergraduate work with Felipe Gomez, teaching professor of Hispanic studies, and her contributions to organizing the 2023 Colombian Comics Symposium. The idea of the mural came from informal discussions with LCAL Department Head Anne Lambright and Director of the Askwith Kenner Global Languages & Cultures Room Stephan Caspar, who were familiar with A.B.’s previous work. They aimed to create a piece that explored themes of hospitality and belonging, drawing inspiration from artists like Frank Miller, an American comic book artist. A.B., a proud Colombian, wanted the mural to reflect elements of Latin American culture and the importance of kindness and community in shaping one’s sense of belonging.

The mural includes interactive elements that allow for text to be swapped out in different languages over time, fostering ongoing conversations about hospitality and inclusivity. A.B. hopes the piece will encourage reflection on how we interact with unfamiliar spaces and people, particularly in today’s global context of war, migration and displacement.

The project began in summer 2023, with the final design being solidified that November. A.B. utilized a pen plotter, a machine that uses pens to draw on paper with speed and precision. She incorporated techniques from embroidery software and printmaking to achieve her vision.

She says the project represents a convergence of her interests in art, technology and cultural expression. And she found a supportive community at CMU, particularly within the LCAL department.

“The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics provided me with a community at Carnegie Mellon University,” she says. “It’s really cool that I got to work with them to create this art installation.”

“In the Footsteps of a Stranger” serves as a tangible reminder of the power of art to provoke thought and dialogue. As it hangs on the walls of the third floor of Posner Hall, it serves as a reminder of the beauty that lies in embracing the unknown and extending a hand of welcome to those who walk in the footsteps of a stranger.