In 2023 and 2024, students in the Environmental Archaeology Lab contributed to a public art project about Native American history in Middletown by 3D scanning and 3D printing replicas of local stone tools from the Archaeology & Anthropology Collections. The “Tunnel Vision” art installation is organized by Prof. Kate TenEyck (Art Studio Department), and involves mosaics made by Middletown artists that each focus on a different period of Middletown’s history. These mosaics will be installed on the walls of the tunnel under Route 9 that connects downtown Middletown to the Connecticut River. 

One section of the mosaic designed by artist Wendy Black-Nasta (Artists for World Peace) focuses on local Wangunk history and highlights Native American culture. Over 400 Middletown residents, Wesleyan students, and public school students contributed to the making of this section of the mosaic.

On September 22, 2024, there was a ceremony to celebrate the completed Honor Wall, followed by a panel discussion. Prof. Brunson gave a short presentation about how students in the Environmental Archaeology Lab 3D scanned and 3D printed replicas of local stone tools from the Archaeology & Anthropology Collections that were used for making clay tiles in the shapes of the original artifacts. Other panelists Gary O’Neill (Wangunk tribal elder and master potter) and Brenda Geer (Vice Chairwoman of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Council and Chairwoman of the Native American Heritage Advisory Council) discussed Native American life in Connecticut in the past and present.

Panelists Wendy Black Nasta, Gary O’Neill, Katherine Brunson, and Brenda Geer

Wendy Black Nasta and Katherine Brunson in front of the Honor Wall mosaic. The mosaic was displayed in a storefront on Main Street Middletown prior to installation in the Harbor Park tunnel.