The Turtles, 1993

E. Rosemary Street Parking Deck

"The turtle mural on Columbia Street, across from the homeless shelter was painted in 1993. Over the years lots of people have asked me, 'Why turtles?'

"There are a number of reasons: First, in my youth, I used to keep pet turtles, sometimes dozens at a time. I still just love them.

"Another reason was that one of my elementary school teachers back in 1963 told me that during the age of the dinosaurs we here in Chapel Hill were under water. As a kid I enjoyed walking around "Up town" and imagining dinosaurs swimming past the planetarium. Maybe one still lived, I thought, in the UNC steam tunnels.

"Third, I had asked the design review board if I could paint a dinosaur the year before. But they said 'No!' I asked them this because I had a lot of young volunteers helping paint that year and I thought they might be inspired just as I was. Since I knew that turtles have been around since the dingo-days a year later I suggested a sea turtle.

"They said 'Yes!' and I got to paint my dinosaur after all.

Finally, at that point, I had been painting murals full time for four years, and I was hearing a lot about an artist who went around the country painting whales. I was getting pretty tired of it. I had seen some of them and felt I could produce as good or better a painting than this nationally famous fellow was doing. Yes, there is some truth in the phrase 'artistic ego,' because I think I did."

Michael Brown

Courtesy of The Chapel Hill News

Restortion:

This 30' x 70' mural has a lower and upper portion which differ greatly in restoration needed.The upper portion with the turtles has significant fading but it is otherwise is in realtively good condition. It needs repainting to restore it former luster and a protective clear coating to slow future fading. The lower section is in poor condition and suffers from fading and peeling which is the result of llime leacing from the mortar. Repair of this section would include a pressure wash to remove flaking paint and a complete cleaning. Afterwards the area would be repaired and a clear coat added.

Total cost for restoration: $2700.00

Amount raised to date: $750.00

Donors:

Mimi Terry