FAST FACTS:
melissa.moon@wreg.com
(Memphis 3/23/09) A section of downtown Memphis is being infused with color.
It's part of a public arts project that's taken over the entire side of a vacant building.
Rhodes College is behind the giant mural that's a stone's throw from the Redbird's stadium.
The designer, Chicago artist, Jeff Zimmermann, isn't ready to give it all away just yet.
"I'd rather not talk about the content, because it's not going to make sense until the larger. There's ton's more," said Zimmermann.
He will tell us, though, the mural, that's larger than life, includes pictures of everyday people in Memphis.
"This woman is Savannah, an older woman. I just wanted to make sure i included some seniors in there," said Zimmermann.
Zimmermann says the mural called "A note for Hope" isn't a summary, history or checklist of Memphis, but will include elements of the city.
And he hopes when it's finished the contemporary painting will have people talking.
"I think they'll be attracted and drawn to it and also puzzled by it and that's what I am interested in the dialogue. If you can keep driving it's a billboard and I don't participate in billboards," said Zimmermann.
Zimmerman says due to state of the economy many public art projects are being pushed to the side and he's glad that didn't happen here.
And for many in the neighborhood it's turning an eyesore into a piece of artwork.
"Hopefully they stop and come over and go wow," said Zimmermann.
The mural is expected to be finished by the middle of next month.
- A giant mural is going up on vacant building downtown
- Rhodes College is behind the public arts project
- The mural includes everyday people in Memphis
melissa.moon@wreg.com
(Memphis 3/23/09) A section of downtown Memphis is being infused with color.
It's part of a public arts project that's taken over the entire side of a vacant building.
Rhodes College is behind the giant mural that's a stone's throw from the Redbird's stadium.
The designer, Chicago artist, Jeff Zimmermann, isn't ready to give it all away just yet.
"I'd rather not talk about the content, because it's not going to make sense until the larger. There's ton's more," said Zimmermann.
He will tell us, though, the mural, that's larger than life, includes pictures of everyday people in Memphis.
"This woman is Savannah, an older woman. I just wanted to make sure i included some seniors in there," said Zimmermann.
Zimmermann says the mural called "A note for Hope" isn't a summary, history or checklist of Memphis, but will include elements of the city.
And he hopes when it's finished the contemporary painting will have people talking.
"I think they'll be attracted and drawn to it and also puzzled by it and that's what I am interested in the dialogue. If you can keep driving it's a billboard and I don't participate in billboards," said Zimmermann.
Zimmerman says due to state of the economy many public art projects are being pushed to the side and he's glad that didn't happen here.
And for many in the neighborhood it's turning an eyesore into a piece of artwork.
"Hopefully they stop and come over and go wow," said Zimmermann.
The mural is expected to be finished by the middle of next month.
