Work of summer art class adorns wall

Using blue, red, yellow, black and white to their hearts delight, seven youngsters are in the process of leaving a big, vibrantly colored "whimsical work of art" on the wall of a very public location -- and it's all okay with the adults.

The group of 11- to 15-year-olds is painting a mural at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park Mall as part of a five-day summer class that ends Saturday.

The class is sponsored by the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri Summer Arts Program.

"I think it's exciting because the kids can express themselves and because of the sheer volume of folks who are going to see this," said Joyce Hunter, senior marketing director at West Park and South County shopping centers. The 36-foot by 8-foot mural is just inside the Pasta House entrance.

For some participants, the class was sprung on them at the last minute, while others were ready for it.

Thomas Rust, 12, learned he would be in the class Tuesday, as he was coming from St. Louis to visit his aunt in Cape Girardeau. An hour later, he was at the shopping center trying to decide on his painting.

"I actually kind of like drawing," he said, picking the paint off his hands from finger painting, "and the fact that I've never drawn on a wall as big as this. It was kind of exciting."

Rust, from St. Louis, said the mural will help him get better at his interest in graphic design. However, he said the idea of the mural remaining up for at least a year doesn't appeal to him.

Ocean view

"You're never really satisfied with yourself when you paint," Rust said, worried that his setting sun looks more like Mars. His work is of an ocean view, with a cliff, a lighthouse and a sun reflecting on the water.

Ryan Hammond, 14, said he hopes to study art in college.

"The more I do, the better I'll get accepted into a college," he said. When his mom approached him about the class, he willingly accepted.

His painting is a shadowed portrait of Albert Einstein, using gray, black and white, with traces of blue and green.

"I just think he's cool because he's good to paint," Hammond said, taking a break from penciling in detailed ripples of hair and shadow. "And his hair, he has cool hair. It's kind of a challenge, but I'm using a grid. So, it's not hard, just tedious."

The mural consists of seven student-chosen paintings, with three of the students combining their works into one. The background was their chance to work with acrylic paint and textures, such as feather dusters, masking tape and sponges.

"I like to get in as much freedom as possible," said Craig Thomas, a local freelance artist hired to instruct the class, "because with the school year, they don't get much of it."

Though the class was intended for 13- to 18-year-olds, the enrolled students were younger.

"I am amazed at the quality of work I am getting from their age level," Thomas said, explaining that he was only there for guidance and to make sure they didn't make a mess.

New mural site

The original site for the mural in years past was the exterior wall of the old location of the arts council, located at Independence and Spanish. The council's move to 32 N. Main St. eliminated space for the mural, but an unexpected call from Hunter provided a new location. Initially intending to enlist an intern to paint another mural, Hunter said the summer class immediately appealed to her. The hallway of the mural leads directly to the Playtown for children and a children's clothing store.

"We have the perfect compliment," Hunter said, "that we have something for children, and it's being introduced by children."

How long the mural remains up is dictated by who else might want the space for retail or display windows.

jmetelski@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 226