First mural unveiled in Janesville
Photo
One of the murals that are scheduled to be hung in downtown Janesville.
Photo
One of the murals that are scheduled to be hung in downtown Janesville.
Photo
One of the murals that are scheduled to be hung in downtown Janesville.
Podcast Episode
WCLO's Steve Benton reports on the installation of the first of three outdoor murals depicting Janesville's history
JANESVILLE — Installation of the first mural in the 2009 Heart of the City Outdoor Art Campaign began this week.
The mural is on the northwest face of Prospect 101, the building at 101 E. Milwaukee St. The 25-by-35-foot mural is visible from the Janesville Farmers Market on North Main Street. The second is scheduled to be installed on the east face of The Janesville Gazette building, 1 S. Parker Drive, next week. The 20-by-23-foot mural will face westbound traffic on East Milwaukee Street. Installation of each mural takes two days.
The murals are part of a series of three that celebrate the founding of Janesville from 1830-1860. Each mural highlights a decade in the life of the community and an asset that led to the city’s economic growth. The first mural honors the land, the second the river and the third the railroads. Each also recognizes a community value, the first “sweat,” the second “power,” the third “grit.”
The Janesville Design & Development Center, a division of Forward Janesville, sponsored the murals as part of its downtown revitalization mission.
The building owners, Sara Investment Real Estate, owner of 101 E. Milwaukee St., and Bliss Communications, owner of 1 S. Parker Drive, have agreed to light the murals. The owners plan to install lighting after the murals are up.
The murals are printed on UV-coated vinyl and wrapped around aluminum frames. Each mural is sized to the proportion of its wall. The artwork came from area artists who painted standard 24-by-32-inch paintings. Each painting was scanned and graphics were added to create final digital images for the manufacturing process.
The murals will hang in their respective locations for five years. After that, the leases may be renewed. The technology allows the murals to be moved if necessary. The murals themselves are expected to last at least 10 years.
Ron Wick of Rockford, Ill., was hired to complete art for the land mural. Milton’s Larry Schultz was commissioned for the river mural. Janesville’s Jim Richter was commissioned to complete the art for the railroad mural.
Installation of the railroad mural hinges on a $57,000 fundraising campaign. If the goal is met, the 22-by-29-foot mural will be hung on the back of the municipal building at 18 N. Jackson St. facing Franklin Street.
Once murals are installed, the Design Center plans to pursue complementary education, including an accessible tour script, a Web site and a partnership with the Janesville School District.
Westphal Electric has offered to light the railroad mural as an in-kind donation. The mural will be hung this fall if $10,000 more is raised in the next few weeks. Otherwise, the mural will be hung next spring.
The campaign has received most of its support from foundations and grants. Area individuals and businesses have also contributed, and a raffle was held over the summer.
Call the Design Center at (608) 756-3721 or visit janesvilledesign.com for more information about the Heart of the City Outdoor Art Campaign.
Christine Moore of the design center and consultant Jeff Larson of The Larson Group began designing the campaign more than two years ago. The theme of “History, Vision, Janesville” arose from ideas gleaned from the “Wisconsin Hometown Stories” documentary created in 2006 by Wisconsin Public Television and the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Oct 25, 2009 at 6:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
I could, if I wanted to, sit here and argue the finer points of life with a guy that lives in a van down by the river. But you know what? I'm not going to that place.
Oct 25, 2009 at 4:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
DiGriz, you're making valid points.
Oct 25, 2009 at 4:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Someone tried to do something nice for The City, and we get the frigging History Detectives picking it apart every step of the way.
Oct 25, 2009 at 4:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
Let's just paint it over because the guy in the picture is wearing glasses and a belt. Jesus, put your anal retentive attitude down for a nap.
Oct 25, 2009 at 9:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
This is a very well written article. Very informative. Straight to to point with zero rhetoric. Hope to read more like it in the future.
Oct 24, 2009 at 3:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
"But in the larger scheme, it's not much of an artistic statement. There's nothing bold or visionary here, just a safe and obvious expression." Sorry, but is kind of like your screenname. Mr. "Favrely"
Oct 23, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hannah's 1:50 post.
"I am still wondering the story of the mural on the side of a building that is off milwuakee st to the right if youre traveling down.....
It reminds me of that old country song....
"Who is the girl wearing nothing but a smile and a towel in the picture on the billboard in the field near the big old highway......"
Oct 23, 2009 at 4 p.m.
Suggest removal
I wonder if the guy on the 1830-40 mural is free for dinner tonight?
Oct 23, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
Gee, what else can everyone complain about? I agree with Pete (which is unreal)! Sorry, Pete. But they are going to look nice. Downtown is maybe taking a step up instead of down. I would rather be downtown than on Milton Avenue.
Oct 23, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
favrely, you have a small point. Perhaps two of the most famous persons associated with Janesville are women -- Frances Willard (her school house is shown, inaccurately) and Carrie Jacobs Bond. Additionally, the pioneering black surgeon Daniel Hale Williams began his medical education here. It is, however, true that Janesville has had very little social contribution from non-whites, with a white population of 99% as recently as the 1960s. There has never been a (significant) black neighborhood, a black church, or a black social club, so far as I am aware. This is ironic because Janesville and Rock County were hotbeds of abolitionism and enrolled hundreds in the Union Army. Even Native Americans had a limited presence here; it was largely seasonal hunting territory with no permanent villages.
.
Still, it's a shame we celebrate these generic images instead of the real personalities tied to our city.
Oct 23, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
This is a fantastic mural of a teleprompter. Wait. What?
Oct 23, 2009 at 10:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Pete, if you look above the comment box you enter your message into, there is a list of bullet points. One of them states:
Stay focused. Keep on the story's topic.
Yet again, you're off topic. Murals Pete...MURALS. Not public speaking, not Obama or Clinton, MUUURRRRALS.
If you can't stay on topic, maybe you should refrain from commenting and go back to ronald-reagan-quotes.com
Oct 23, 2009 at 9:03 a.m.
Suggest removal
Sure Lost City.....possibly with a tag line that reads "Unity" with an image of the workers striking outside of the plant?
Beloit has similar murals on the Ironworks facility. They look incredible when lit at night......
Oct 23, 2009 at 8:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
Are the going to put up a GM banner?
Oct 23, 2009 at 8:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
Fox News is good news!
Oct 22, 2009 at 11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Pete... Go watch FOX news...
Oct 22, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
pete do you ever stay focused on the subject, without bringing up some form of politics?
Oct 22, 2009 at 9:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
I'd like to rephrase my "Obama is the man" comment...Here goes: "Pete you're the man"
Oct 22, 2009 at 9:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
OMG!! artxette you've got to KIDDING!
Oct 22, 2009 at 9:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
It doesn't matter, Pete. Obama could out-speak Reagan with his eyes closed. He don't need no stinkin' teleprompter. He's the man. Get used to it.
Oct 22, 2009 at 8:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Very nice job! Thank you to everyone who took a part in this.
Oct 22, 2009 at 7:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
Very cool!
Oct 22, 2009 at 7:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
Here are a couple more quotes that are pretty good. Not good in the sense that they would belong on these lovely murals, but good nonetheless. Great touch on the murals--something all of Janesville can be proud of.
"...Too many OBGYN’s aren’t able to practice their, their love with women all across the country."
"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning."
--George W. Bush
Oct 22, 2009 at 5:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
Really, Pete? I'm glad you see it that way. I actually thought I was going to see you whining about tax money on this page for some reason.
Oct 22, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
Thanks to the building owners for donating space and anyone who contributed materials or labor. I would prefer something a little less like a poster, but these are still a great addition to the downtown and show Janesville's pride in its heritage and hope for the future.
Oct 15, 2009 at 5:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
Great job Larry! In fact, they all look very nice.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.