Page 17 - the NOISE January 2016

WINGSPANS OF CHANGE
The finished mural The Sound of Flight by Mural Mice Universal’s Margaret Dewar and R.E. Wall, and painter Sky Black can be found on the eastern facing wall of the Orpheum Theater.
STORY BY NIKKI CHARNSTROM
An orchestra of vibrant colors, textured brush strokes, and feathered wingspans harmonize together to create a once-upon-a-time scene where music and art collide. Peeking from the side of the Orpheum Theater, The Sound of Flight beckons for attention with its intricate
detail and large-scale images reaching across the entirety of the wall.
Artist Sky Black and Mural Mice Universal founders R.E. Wall and Margaret Dewar
collaborated with a vision and a goal to create the public mural.
“Many ideas were tossed around in the beginning, but it became clear to me in the winter of
2013 I was ready for a big project, and had the ambition and energy to design a concept for the entire wall,” Mr. Black says.
The original design Mr. Black formulated was influenced greatly by the “presence and collaborative efforts” of the Mural Mice when he invited them to work on the mural alongside him in the beginning of 2014. “He [Mr. Black] had this determination in his face,” Mr. Wall recalls.
After six months of fundraising $75,000, and eight months of painting, The Sound of Flight, “the mural that launched a thousand smiles,”is finished. “There is nothing more rewarding than
seeing something go from an idea to completion,” Mr. Wall expresses.
The mural also lends itself as a gift to the community. “A lot of people really supported the
project in the making of it. You realize that’s a solid community you’re a part of,”Ms. Dewar says. The artists view their work as an opportunity to give back to the people of Flagstaff with the hope of it being loved and received by all who see it.
“When first viewed, I hope there are a few moments of awe the viewer experiences. Whether it’s from the undeniable size of the wall, the colors used, the power in numbers of the amount of birds, or any of the other aspects in the painting,” Mr. Black says. “Like all of my art, I aim to make the work as subjective as possible to the viewer, meaning there are many possible interpretations.”
Like any work of art, the process began by purchasing the materials, planning the placement of everything, and drawing it onto the wall. From there it was up to the artists to begin painting their vision.
“Since we were using acrylic paint, we mainly used the alla prima approach, which means painting in full color with the aim to complete each component in that session of painting,” Mr. Black explains. “The trick is to make sure our color pallets, brush strokes, and overall style was as consistent as possible.”
With discipline and hard work they persevered in every situation, rain or shine, to accomplish their goal.
“Some days we were confronted by seasonal downpour. Other days we couldn’t wait until the sun passed the eve of the building to relieve us of its intensity and heat. We even painted in the snow,” Mr. Black recalls. “The elements are just something you get used to as a muralist.”
Emotionally, the artists feel they experienced a full range of sensations throughout the painting of the mural. “It’s kind of a weird existence in some ways, because for months and months you stand two-feet from a wall and that’s what you’re doing. The sun comes up and the sun goes down and you’re still there,” Ms. Dewar reflects.
Mr. Wall explains how when the three of them were painting side by side in the flow of the process, they would call it “surfing the scaffold.” They found the scaffolding drew attention; people would stop to have conversations with them about the birds, what they would like to see on the wall, and other murals they’ve seen. If an individual made a recommendation, often times the artists found themselves trying to incorporate it into the wall. “It’s direct feedback,” Mr. Wall explains. “With us we know as we’re going along whether we’re hitting the mark.”
The mural also serves as a symbol of hope, touching those who stand in front of it. “It uplifts peoples’spirits. We’ve seen people burst into tears in front of the mural. They’ve had a hard life or they are having a hard moment and the mural reaches in. It’s beauty that’s just happening,” Ms. Dewar says.
42 • JANUARY 2016 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us
Each individual painter has their own appreciation for the mural; whether it is a particular image, or challenge they had to work through and overcome. Ms. Dewar has a fondness for the wolf because it serves as a reminder of her dog that passed away halfway through the painting of the mural. For Mr. Black, he enjoyed capturing the depth and complexity of Grand Canyon. On a different level, Mr. Wall takes pride in the difficulties they faced as a team and tackled head on together to accomplish.
“My favorite overall aspect of the mural is the fact that three different artists were able to work together to make it look like it was painted by one hand,”Mr. Black expresses. “Our communication and what colors we were using was pretty sophisticated throughout the process.”
The message the artists strive to convey through this project is everyone has the potential to leave their mark on the community and furthermore, the world. “It’s a beautiful art craft to be involved in,” Mr. Wall says. “People have more power than they think they do. We bring out that thing that is missing in society.”
One benefit of public art is it grows with the community it is placed into. “It’s interesting how public art kind of plays a role of belonging to everyone in a different way than most art,” Ms. Dewar explores. With The Sound of Flight, over 800 individuals showed up and involved themselves in the making of the mural; through donations or participation. “When there are that many people involved, it illuminates the community,” Mr. Wall says. With this level of neighborhood participation, the artists are determined to not only give back to the people of Flagstaff, but to also give them a voice and have it heard. “It creates a sense of ownership and people become possessive of it. Everybody has a chance to make a mark. It’s powerful that way.”
Up to this point, the mural has received a great amount of appreciation from the downtown area. “When you do public art, you are reaching in and affecting the community’s consciousness,” Ms. Dewar believes. The lasting, “immortal” characteristic of the mural also lends to creating a deeper connection.
With everything the mural represents, the cost of painting it is no longer a label. “When the mural is finished, it’s priceless. It becomes something that is worth too much money; more than money can actually pay for,” Mr. Wall explains.
With the mural complete and Mr. Black’s original concept displayed on the wall to some degree, he believes the end result of The Sound of Flight is greater than he could have imagined. “The collaborative efforts of the Mural Mice really allowed for the full potential of the mural to
be realized and executed. Their experience and expertise alone allowed for many elements of the mural to be considered at the time they were needed,” Mr. Black says.
From the beginning, The Mural Mice were eager to work with Mr. Black because of his cultivated reputation and motivation. “The primary reason for helping Sky with his vision was to get a piece by Sky Black in this town,” Mr. Wall explains. “He cares enough about the town and that has helped him to make sure he left his mark here. We want to be a part of helping him give that gift.”
Although the initial hope for the future of their mural is for it to bring happiness, the artists would like to see it spark a movement of downtown art. Ms. Dewar foresees the potential Flagstaff has to create and build something to be proud of; one painting at a time.
“I hope this mural helps to add to the public art collection in Flagstaff; and also helps to raise the bar and inspires many artists to come,” Mr. Black concludes.
The Sound of Flight can be found on the east-facing exterior wall of the Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff. soundofflight.net, skyblackart.com, muralmice.com.
| Nikki Charnstrom enjoys the sound of flight in the air. arts@thenoise.us thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news • january 2016 • 17