Huge Mural Going Up In Stages On New North Loop Building
The exterior walls of a new North Loop building are quickly becoming very colorful as artists from Juxtaposition Arts start putting up a new mural this week–without a paint can in sight.
The actual work of painting the mural was already done in studios onto a durable material known as polytab which is now being attached to the walls with adhesives, panel by panel.
The building that’s getting the new mural is part of The Hall Lofts, which backs up to the popular Nordic Plaza.
“I think it’s going to make a space that’s arty, kind of socially alive and become aesthetically alive as well,” said lead artist Drew Peterson.
The installation crews are starting with the walkway next to Thr3Jack and Sable.
They’ll eventually cover all the lower panels on the building’s backside, next to Fuzzy’s.
The developer of The Hall Lofts, CedarST, hired Juxtaposition Arts to create a mural that’s largely abstract.
But three panels will be devoted to a significant historical event from 90 years ago, the labor strife of 1934 that boiled over with the infamous Bloody Friday at the very intersection where this building went up.
As the panels are being installed, the crews actually will put some paint brushes to good use, as they paint over the seams and do other little touch-ups.
They will also apply a layer of varnish to seal and protect it from the elements. Peterson said this type of mural lasts just as long as those that are directly painted onto walls.
“I’ve worked on other projects like this that have been up for ten years and they look the exact same as they did,” he said. “It’s pretty cool.”
With crews working five days a week, Peterson expects the mural to be complete by the first weekend in October.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop volunteer