GBSStudio Murals

Installed in Wittenberg

2009-11-02T14:48:00.002-06:00

Artists brighten downtown window with mural

2009-10-25T20:23:00.006-05:00

La Crosse Tribune
By GERI PARLIN gparlin@lacrossetribune.com

Local artists Matt Duckett and Jennifer Bushman recently finished an eye-popping mural, which will be displayed in Wittenberg, Wis., as part of Walls of Wittenberg, a program started in 2005 to revitalize the village through development of the arts. In four years, the central Wisconsin village has commissioned and installed 15 murals and opened an art gallery.

This mission struck a chord with the La Crosse artists, who run the Green Bay Street Studio. So Duckett and Bushman created a design that incorporated the nature of the building on which their mural would hang - an eye clinic. Duckett and Bushman's final design mimics the appearance of color-blindness tests and measures an imposing 8 feet by 30 feet. It is made up of more than 2,600 circles in 65 colors.

The artwork is painted on Dibond, an aluminum composite that is two thin sheets of aluminum sandwiching a layer of resin and is most often used in signmaking. Duckett and Bushman created 18 sizes of stencils to create the circles. Then they varnished the completed mural to weatherproof it.

The mural will be installed in Wittenberg late this week but until then is on display in the newly renovated building at 333 Main St. in downtown La Crosse. Duckett said this is a taste of what is about to happen in La Crosse. As a member of the City Arts Board, Duckett is working on a program to install artwork in vacant storefronts in La Crosse.

Finished and Temporarily Insatlled at 4th & Main

2009-10-19T23:06:00.006-05:00

Almost There

2009-10-19T23:03:00.009-05:00

Pressing Forward

2009-10-19T22:58:00.007-05:00

Beginning the Mural

2009-10-19T22:54:00.004-05:00

Doug's Mural

2009-07-03T20:12:00.004-05:00

Doug (City Forge Blacksmith) needed his garage wall painted, and who better to take care of this for him...GBSS. With some beers in hand and 15 cans of spray paint we went to town on his wall. What a great time trying spray painting! We'll have to do it again real soon.

Walls of Wittenberg

2009-05-07T10:15:00.004-05:00

We are currently working with Walls of Wittenberg on potentially painting a mural on the side of Dr. Raymond Goga's Eye Clinic. Walls of Wittenberg is a group of art interested residents who came together and created Walls of Wittenberg, whose mission is to bring out the beauty and unique character of the Wittenberg area in a way that revitalizes the downtown, honors the history of the area, and attracts visitors by having artists paint amazing murals on the historical buildings. Click here to learn more.

So far we have designed two mock ups for the committee to review and potentially select for the building.

LAST DAY

2008-11-03T18:19:00.003-06:00

Well, I've missed a couple of posts. We worked on the mural Saturday, October 25th. Followed by Thursday, October 30th, since those were the only couple of sunny, somewhat warm days. We were able to finish the numbers with another coat of paint and under the awning as well. After Thursday we only had tape to pull off some windows and under the awning, which I just did tonight. Below are some pictures from the other day. I will take some final images tomorrow or Wednesday due to it being dark out by 6pm now. :( But the mural looks great and it's finally done!

Day Twelve, Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

2008-10-21T20:30:00.003-05:00

Left work at 4 today to get in an extra hour of painting in. Erich got a 4th coat on 2/3 of the windows this afternoon. So I hauled but and put the final coat on all the windows. I was also able to put the 1st coat and 1/2 on the bottom half under the awning. Once again I didn't take pictures because it was dark when I left. If I have time tonight I'll go back to the building and take a couple even if it's too dark to see what was done.

Day Eleven, Monday, October 20th, 2008

2008-10-21T20:26:00.003-05:00

Well the rest of the weeks forecast is rain, rain and more rain and it's suppose to be COLD. So if there is any sun I need to be out there working. I was able to get the third coat of paint on the windows by going straight to the studio after work and working until I couldn't see. Sorry no pictures again. Man kinda feel like I'm dropping the ball on the images lately. I try to have some tomorrow, if I have enough light.

Day Ten, Sunday, October 19th, 2008

2008-10-21T20:23:00.002-05:00

Started the day out right with breakfast at Rosie's Cafe. Had a late night at the studio working on stuff for the Masquerade party so we needed a pick me up first thing in the morning, ok 11 am in the morning. Worked on touch ups, windows and the center block. Worked until dark. Touch ups on the ribbon are pretty much done and the middle section is only in need of some touch ups as well. This leaves the windows and under the awning. Sorry again no pictures too dark to capture much.

Day Nine, Saturday, October 18th, 2008

2008-10-21T20:21:00.001-05:00

From the rainy weather the tape we had originally put on left a residue. So today was clean up day. I took my trusty can of goo gone spray and worked my way up and down the ribbons and pulled the tape off the main entrance doors and cleaned off the tape residue. No pictures today, not much to show.

Day Eight, October 16, 2008

2008-10-21T20:20:00.001-05:00

Erich and Matt worked on the middle section and windows. I wasn't able to snap any images but we are closer and closer to the end.

Day Seven (Sunday, October 12th, 2008)

2008-10-12T19:57:00.002-05:00

The rain held off and we were able to complete the cream and get a few coats on the middle section. All that is left is the windows and touch ups!

Day Six (Saturday, October 11th, 2008)

2008-10-12T19:27:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness for beautiful weather, finally! Sunny and in the 70's, today was a success. With help from Dave, Kara and Dan we were able to get the blue ribbon complete and the middle section primed. With the rain holding out for Sunday hopefully we will be near completion.

Day Five (Thursday, October 9th, 2008)

2008-10-09T19:10:00.004-05:00

Finally nice weather. Worked all afternoon. Started painting the blue ribbon. Looks pretty good, can't wait to finish. Tape held up after the rain, saved us time. Saturday will be the day to work hard and complete the ribbons and paint the windows...to be continued.

Day Four (Tuesday, October 7th, 2008)

2008-10-07T20:30:00.005-05:00

LET IT RAIN!!! It has finally arrived and there isn't much we can do. Or is there? I figured the only thing that could be done was paint the doorway. So I did. The first dark blue paint has touched the Family Resources walls. It was a good feeling to get the blue flowing. The pictures below aren't the greatest but you get the idea. Hopefully all my taping will hold up after the rain!

Day Three (Monday, October 6th, 2008)

2008-10-07T11:47:00.005-05:00

Well the hype of rain all day wasn't true. It was a beautiful day and no one could work on the mural. Myself, at work all day, Matt at school and work as well. But I was able to get a few hours of taping and priming in after work before and after the sun set. Having all the priming done will help with the plan to start painting the dark blue on Thursday afternoon.

Day Two (Sunday, October 5th, 2008)

2008-10-05T21:27:00.003-05:00

Due to inclement weather most of the day went without much to show. We were able to prime the door frame and start the outline of the doorway. Hopefully throughout the week we will be able to lay down the rest of the primer/tape and start the colors of the ribbons and windows Thursday. Lets hope for better weather than today.

Day One (Saturday, October 4th, 2008)

2008-10-05T20:55:00.004-05:00

Day one started out a little later then planned since the temps. seem to have dropped drastically in the past week. Erich and I(Jenn) started at the bright and early time of noon, at a balmy 51 degrees. Just warm enough to paint on the primer. Working until 7 pm and with end of the day help from Matt and Hallie, we were able to finish priming the ribbons. After a long days work and tired sore hands, a nice cold drink was readily needed.

The GBSS/Family Resources Mural Project

2008-10-05T14:56:00.000-05:00

The Green Bay Street Studio has been commissioned by our neighbors, Family Resources of La Crosse, to paint the front of the building. The design will add visual interest to the building and make it distinguished among the other warehouse buildings in the area. The ribbon design will give the Family Resource Center a visual identity and character that will be easily identifiable and memorable.

GBSS will be commencing initial work on the project during the week of October 4th, with a scheduled completion date of October 11th.

The project will be a fundraiser that will allow the Studio to continue to offer classes and workshops to community members. Members can volunteer to help paint or clean for the project. Please contact a studio representative if you would like to be involved in making this project happen.