The photos in this SoundSlide span the two-month mural project, from July 8 to Sept. 18, 2009. Photos by Zach Mazur, www.photozam.com, assistant curator, Museum of Art/WSU. Music “Under the Sea,” by Od Tapo Imi steel drum band.
PULLMAN The community that spent the summer watching artist Patrick Siler create an outdoor downtown mural will celebrate its completion 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14.
A reception for the artist on the Pine Street Plaza, just below the mural, will feature remarks by Pullman mayor and WSU professor Glenn Johnson; Pullman Arts Commission chair and associate director of the Museum of Art/WSU Anna Maria Shannon; and artist and WSU professor emeritus Siler.
The reception is hosted by the arts commission and the museum.
Siler put the finishing touches on the mural on Sept. 22. The project, a donation of time and effort on the part of Siler, was partially funded by a tourism grant.
A new landmark for downtown, the image is of a rural community “Main Street” with people sitting in a plaza playing checkers while whimsical sea horses and turtles float above.
“I see it as a reflection of those things that are disappearing small-town America, a sense of community and our natural environments,” said Shannon. “It is an incredible addition to our downtown – colorful, vibrant and full of life!”
Siler is retired from the WSU Department of Fine Art. He taught mostly ceramics but originally trained in painting at the University of California, Berkeley. He wanted to return to painting and was curious about mural work as a medium of expression.
He began thinking about a mural project almost a year ago and found willing partners in building owners Moon Lee and Matthew Tedder. Siler began painting in early June and has enjoyed the experience, especially visiting with people who stopped by to ask him questions as he painted.
“Doing a large-scale piece in public has been a great adventure and learning experience for me. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to find another venue like this in the city in order to do another one” Siler said.
Johnson described the mural as “a colorful addition to the downtown that brightens the imagination.”
