What's Different About This Mural?

The historical theme in 'Cattle Days in Hidden Valley' is not the only subject of this mural. The goal of the artist is to present some additional ideas for you, the veiwer, to consider. Another story being told here is about what happened to an artist while he was sleeping on the job an yet a third is about the mural process itself. Let's look:

Valentine's Day

Manifested from the artist dreaming about Cattle Days, a rodeo bull name Valentine is metamorphisized into 3-D reality next to the scaffolding. Named for the white heart shape on his head, Valentine also bears the McHaney gang brand, as if he traveled out here from the historical scene in the mural. Eagerly waiting for the artist to awake — along with a patient buzzard perched on the arch — Valentine will soon have his day.

The 'Unfinished' Mural

Why is some of this mural left incomplete? --Here are the artist's reasons:

Effective Illusion  The subtle, 2-dimensional qualities of the 'incomplete work' provide a contrast from the foreground. It heightens the sense of illusion. If the background were less complete, there would not be enough colors or shapes for a full composition. If it were more complete, it would be a distraction and render the illusion less effective.

Painting Lesson  The mid process also provides the viewer with a journey through all the different steps of mural painting — from wall grids and sketched images to blocked-in colors and finished painting.

Mural Site Activity  There is a great sense of artistic energy and community involvement while a mural is being painted; while it is active. Here we have left the mural in a state of perpetual activity. Although a 'finished' piece is the traditional state of completion, it is perhaps less alive than witnessing the actual stages of creation.

Aesthetics  More artists have stumbled into exciting accidents while painting, and it is always with regret that these lovely jewels must be coverd over to finish the piece. Here with this mural, we pause in mid-movement and embrace fresh abract forms and gentle transparent colors. The beauty captured during these moments of creation is perhaps the most compelling reason why the process itself deserves to be distiguished as a final art form.

--John Pugh