MSJ Art & Design Students Explore Cincinnati History Through Union Terminal Murals

Mount St. Joseph University Art & Design students recently traveled to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal for an immersive experience exploring one of Cincinnati's most significant examples of public art: the historic mosaic murals created by German-born artist Winold Reiss. The field trip gave students the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and experience the monumental artwork firsthand while learning about Reiss's artistic process, Cincinnati's history, and the German artistic traditions that influenced his work. This field trip was made possible by the university's Germany on Campus grant.

Reiss created 23 mosaic murals for Union Terminal, which opened in 1933 during the Great Depression. During their visit, MSJ students viewed six of the murals at Union Terminal and an additional eight outside the First Financial Convention Center and learned how the works depict Cincinnati's people, industries, transportation, technological development, and cultural history.

The murals were produced using glass mosaics manufactured by the Ravenna Mosaic Company, an important Cincinnati company known for its craftsmanship and production of architectural mosaics. The combination of Reiss's European/German artistic background including his dad's influence and Ravenna's specialized mosaic techniques resulted in a monumental body of work that continues to define Union Terminal.

Students were particularly interested in how Reiss combined historical documentation with artistic interpretation. Rather than relying exclusively on idealized or fictional figures, Reiss preferred working with live models, often choosing ordinary people to represent the workers, craftspeople, and communities who contributed to Cincinnati's development. "It was cool that Reiss preferred live models who were ordinary people and that the time period was displayed above them as a reflection of technological advancements," said MSJ student Alondra Soto-Rivera. "I enjoyed learning that the end of the murals was a prediction of the future and it seemed like a hopeful addition since they were built during the Great Depression."

Reiss's European and German artistic background can be seen in his careful attention to human figures, craftsmanship, and historical storytelling. His approach connected traditional European artistic training with the modern subject matter of American industry and technological progress. Students were able to see how these influences came together in artwork created specifically for a major transportation hub in Cincinnati. One of the details that particularly intrigued students was Reiss's depiction of cities in silver. The artist envisioned the future as increasingly technological and modern, and the metallic appearance of the cities reflected that vision. Caleb, an MSJ student, said the historical context helped him better understand the work.

For students, the scale and detail of the mosaics were especially striking. "I thought it was cool how the murals showed different parts of Cincinnati's history, including industries, transportation, and the people who helped build the city," said Cate Cole. "I liked looking at the different figures and details in the murals and learning what they represented."

Cole also found that understanding the stories behind the murals changed the way she experienced the artwork. "The tour helped me appreciate the artwork more because I understood the stories and meaning behind what I was looking at," she said. "I loved the colors used in all of the murals. The color schemes he chose really stood out and worked perfectly."

The students also had the opportunity to examine the murals from different perspectives, gaining a greater appreciation for the physical process involved in creating such large-scale mosaic works. Alice, a freshman art student, was particularly fascinated by Reiss's use of negative or unfilled space. "I loved the murals; they were incredible," she said. "I did not realize how much 'empty' space there was in the murals, where it was just the stucco." She also observed how the contrast between the mosaic figures and the surrounding areas helped bring the people depicted in the murals forward visually.

The students also learned about Reiss's artistic process, including his practice of repeatedly recreating and refining figures based on his models. "I also thought his process was very interesting," Alice said. "He recreated the people so many times and I think that's what helped perfect it and make them look more real and natural."

Among the works that made a particular impression on the students were the murals depicting workers associated with Cincinnati's artistic and industrial history, including a potter and kiln master connected to Rookwood Pottery. "I especially enjoyed the murals of the potter and kiln master from Rookwood Pottery," said Alondra Soto-Rivera. "They were so intricate and nicely made, it felt like I was there with them."

Patience, freshmen art student, also appreciated Reiss's decision to represent workers within the murals. "I like that they included the worker in the artwork," she said. "I love that the mural had a lot of color."

The students' observations demonstrate how an experience with original artwork can deepen their understanding of both art history and artistic practice. Rather than studying reproductions or photographs in a classroom, students were able to experience the enormous scale, material qualities, colors, and craftsmanship of the mosaics in person.

The field trip also provided an opportunity for MSJ students to connect their studies in art and design with the history of Cincinnati. Reiss's murals document a city shaped by transportation, manufacturing, labor, technology, immigration, and the people who built its communities. At the same time, the works reflect the artistic traditions and technical expertise that came together to create one of Union Terminal's most recognizable features.

The preservation of the murals also became part of the students' learning experience. Several of the Union Terminal murals faced the possibility of destruction when the building's future was uncertain. Donors ultimately provided funding to help save the murals, allowing future generations including today's MSJ students to experience the artwork firsthand.

Continuing the German Connection

The German influence continued beyond the museum as students ended their adventure with a meal at Hofbräuhaus - Newport, a German restaurant located just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The meal provided a fitting conclusion to a day spent exploring the influence of German culture on Cincinnati's art, architecture, and history.

Sharing a meal together also gave students an opportunity to reflect on the experience, discuss their favorite murals and discoveries, and connect what they had learned in the museum to a contemporary setting celebrating German food and culture. For the students, the visit was more than an art history lesson. It was an opportunity to see how art, culture, technology, history, and craftsmanship can come together in a public space.

As Alice reflected after the visit, the experience also inspired her own artistic interests. "Overall, I found the process and art style itself very interesting and I would like to take inspiration from it or attempt to recreate it sometime soon."

The visit to Union Terminal reinforced the value of experiential learning for MSJ Art & Design students, giving them an opportunity to study an important Cincinnati landmark while considering how artists use materials, historical narratives, people, and visual language to communicate with an audience. Nearly a century after Reiss's murals were created, the artwork continues to tell Cincinnati's story and continues to inspire new generations of artists to look more closely.

Thank you to our Germany on Campus grant from the German Embassy for their support of our art & design students continued learning about the German cultural and artistic influences in Cincinnati.