Walt's Grill, mid 1990s
111 S. Merritt Mill Road
The geometric mural on Walt's Grill was painted in the mid '90s. We had been painting murals for a number of years, so I don't remember exactly what year it was. By then, though, I had a huge assortment of left over paints from previous projects.
Just as every other year, I wanted to employ a different type of art and "borrow" from a different style and culture. I decided to use a folk art form not traditionally regarded very highly: quilting.
This approach allowed me to create an abstraction (which I hadn't painted many of). It allowed me to make an (albeit mild) feminist point about art, (who is considered an artist, and why?). It also allowed me to be an ecologically responsible citizen and use all my leftover paint.
I usually related to the students more like an orchestra conductor than an art teacher. I gave them lots of structure and expected them to "Do it my way."
With this design the students could pick the colors they wanted, or mix colors if they felt like it. They could put them (more or less) wherever they chose. Everybody could feel confident about painting simple squares. Our method was very much like some traditional quilting projects! The volunteers had loads of fun, and I got to relax more than usual.
Michael Brown
Courtesy of The Chapel Hill News
Chapel Hill News, Feb. 2, 2007
This 22' x 24' mural is painted with Acrylic house paint and is plagued by extensive fading, extensive grease stain, and some paint flaking. Restoration would inlcude a complete repainting with a new UV topcoat which would prevent fading in the future.
Total cost for restoration: $3750.00
Amount raised to date: $25.00
Donors:
Susan V. Baker
