"Where the Mountains Meet the Sky" Mural Launches in Downtown
A new mural in DTLH was recently completed by youth artists from Pam Reinke’s Art Academy. We had a chance to ask Pam about the exciting colorful project called “Where the Mountains Meet the Sky”:
The new mural is located at the walkway ramp between Havasu Hardware and Jersey’s Grill.
FIRST FRIDAY
What inspired the project? What was it like working with Havasu Hardware?
PAM
I wanted my Art Academy students (who have been with me for five years) to experience the pride in contributing to their community in a creative way.
Erica McCorkle from Havasu Hardware was very easy to work with (her daughter has been in my program for 4 years so that helped).
FIRST FRIDAY
How did you determine the design? Was there any help with funding of supplies and/or your time?
PAM
We had just done an art history lesson on Ted Harrison, an artist from the Yukon who did beautiful graphic landscapes where the values are shapes rather than blended. The results were gorgeous so I suggested that style for the mural and asked interested kids to submit their designs with an application (a scaled down version) from what we use at HAPA (Havasu Area Public Art) for muralists. I had five entries.
I took those applications to a HAPA board meeting so they could choose the winning designs. But they liked them all so I was able to do a Photoshop mock up of four of them on two different walls. These were then presented to Havasu Hardware and Jersey’s Grill (the other wall) for approval. It was a win! Bella Kelly, Hailey Bluestone, Brianna Morsching and Elee Gough. The fifth one was done by an amazing artist Juliet Gewecke, who we decided should have her own wall.
A former painter emailed to tell me that the Havasu Art Guild had a grant for special projects. I was able to get funding for $800 which was a huge help!
“Art makes a community come alive, for the locals and the visitors. ”
FIRST FRIDAY
How many of your students participated?
PAM
13 kids ages 9-16 participated, plus parents helped too. They all worked together, it was amazing!
The four students who had designed the work were in charge of directing the others in the painting of their design. I got there early and swatched the parts with the paint to be used in that area.
FIRST FRIDAY
How long did it take to plan, design and execute? Do you have more public art planned in the future?
PAM
It took about 8 hours. We spent an hour free handing the designs on the wall the first weekend, the second weekend we started at 7A and finished by 11:30. I didn’t expect to finish that morning as it was getting hot but the kids didn’t want to leave until it was finished. Loved that level of commitment.
I am currently looking for a wall for Juliet's piece and would love the opportunity to do this again with my students. It was fun and came together so perfectly.
FIRST FRIDAY
Can you provide a quote on the importance of more art in a growing community?
PAM
Public art is a statement that 'the community' cares and is proud of their COMMUNITY. I think it is an essential role of an artist to contribute to their community in a creative way, it is the opposite of the isolated artist alone in their studio. Our barstool auction fundraiser makes it possible for us to pay artists to paint murals, we say art creates ART!
