Skatepark mural
One of the artists that I love and follow on Instagram is Liz Morrow. She started as a fashion blogger, moved to DIY/Interior Design, and has landed in printmaking which is actually where her background lies. Over the last year, I have watched her submit for murals, shows, and put herself out there, and have been really inspired by her drive and her connection to her community.
I saw an opportunity come up within my community, a call for local artists to create a mural for a local skatepark that is going to be built. I figured, why not apply, I have nothing to lose! So I submitted a few of my pieces as examples, and an idea to be inspired by the local nature and folklore (no one is surprised). The committee was going to select 6 artists to come up with a rough idea for a mural, and then from that 3 would be selected to create their mural for the park. When I received the email that I had been selected to create a sketch for the next round, I was so surprised!
I was trying to come up with a full idea, and I remembered that on a walk, I heard the call of a sand hill crane for the first time. I started to learn about what the crane means to the indigenous people of this area, and its symbolism. So I started my sketch, and during an interview with the committee, explained that the call of the crane was a call to gather. To meet and celebrate as a community. This felt like what the skatepark was meant to do. I guess the committee liked my idea, because I was one of four selected to move on and create a mural! However, this was at the time that the national arts funds were being cut, and these murals were made possible with a national grant. With the threat of the funds being taken away, we were asked to create our murals in a week.
Instead of being able to use whatever materials we would have liked, we all created digital works that could easily be printed at a large size. I still didn’t know what any of the other pieces looked like, or what themes the other artists were building off of, but I pushed through with my design, and submitted my final piece. I ended up adding a robin, the Wisconsin state bird, and a raven, because I like them, joining the crane in flight to represent diversity. The grand reveal of the murals was a week ago, and I could not believe my art is on display at one of our local community parks!
The skatepark is still in the process of fundraising, so the murals are up in the park where the skate park will be. I really enjoyed this experience and opportunity to create a piece of artwork that will be a part of my community. I consider it a high honor to be on display with three other incredible artists. I can’t wait to see how it all looks once the skatepark is finally built! I look forward to other opportunities to add art to our local community, and will not be afraid to apply again!
If you were asked to create a mural for your community, what would you make?