As part of Piccolo Spoleto‘s chART-o-RAMA, I was invited to do a mural on a wall of Gene’s Haufbrau. Now, I am not a painter…I am much more comfortable with pencil and paper…so this undertaking was both exciting and terrifying. I have been mistakenly credited in the past for doing the mural outside Frothy Beard. Though I designed the logo, the great David Boatwright was the muralist. My first foray into painting a mural was a much smaller undertaking than that Frothy Wall!
The wall (or half wall) is on one side of a smoking area of Gene’s. The piece is called “Bottoms Up”, and the idea was to have a bit of fun re-imagining the lower halves of those behind the wall…perhaps you could choose to stand by your spirit animal (are you truly half unicorn?), reveal your alter ego (with the heart of a ballerina), or just entertain an onlooker without even knowing it (hey, chicken legs!). I hope people enjoy it as much as I enjoyed being a part of creating it.
Now, I could not have done it without the help of a great mural team! Mollie Howey, Susan Walter, Lauren Miller, Lucas Rhoad, and Will Hand all made this possible. They were kind enough to lend their skills and support so that this mural could be finished in time for chART-o-RAMA. I want to thank my inaugural mural models too – Jon Stout of BadJon Photography, Mollie Howey, and Tammy Searson.
This mural was just one more fun piece of being involved in Piccolo Spoleto this year. Through Piccolo, I have met new people from all over the country, connected with other local artists, expanded my own artistic comfort zone, and just plain had fun. I get to continue the local artisan love-fest at the Station Park Circle Opening this week, and I finish up vending with Piccolo at the farmers market this Saturday. My little art heart is full.