LSA sophomore Ariel Zipkin hadn't picked up a paint brush since fourth grade.

That was the extent of Zipkin's artistic experience before she took "Art in Public Space" with Art Prof. Mark Tucker.

Along with her 23 classmates, Zipkin painted a mural on the wall of the glassed-in atrium of the new Undergraduate Science Building. The mural was installed Tuesday.

Tucker works with mostly non-art majors to bring their artwork to public spaces.

"Students make better artwork when it is going to be shown publicly," said Tucker, who created the class three years ago.

Hundreds filled the Undergraduate Science Building yesterday for the mural's unveiling.

The focus of the mural is evolution. It will memorialize the University's theme semester on the subject. Covered with swirls of bright colors depicting scenes ranging from fruit to monkeys to human anatomy, the 676-square-foot painting provides a vibrant focal point for the lobby of the building, which will open for classes next fall.

Each student designed and painted a panel of about 16 square feet, which was then applied to the wall like wallpaper, Tucker said.

Tucker said his primary focus is teaching his students to be genuine and artistically see the world around them.

"The gift of sight is something that we take for granted," he said.

Students who had never taken an art class said artistic vision came easily to them during the class.

"People take the class not knowing they can do anything . but (the mural) shows that you can do it," said LSA junior Michelle Dorman, who has taken the class every year it's been offered.

Dorman's panel was based on Leonardo Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man."

The mural's unveiling was in collaboration with Professor Naomi Silver's "The Art of Narrative" class, where her freshman students wrote poetry after seeing the painted panels. Poets, painters, photographers and musicians attended the event.

"Anyone can be an artist if they want to," said LSA freshman Reginald Quarker.

Attendees viewed the mural from outside the building while listening to music from the band Midnight Special.

The students in the class said they have made a lasting contribution to the University.

"Four years at Michigan is not a lot, but this will be here for a long time," LSA junior Sunghei Yau said.