Remuralizing & Demoralizing
I just wanted to attempt to resurrect or take the pulse of the idea bandied about a short while back re: recreating the Scott Street Pub’s upstairs wall mural. The gist of the idea was that, since a detailed photographic record exists of the entire mural, why can’t it become a community project to recreate it in a new home? Some recommended the Fillmor as a good candidate for a home. Or maybe somewhere in/on ArtsBlock. Is there anyone out there in CW land that is taking this project to heart and under their wing?
Also…
I heard that Malarkey’s was broken into this week and their computer equipment was made off with (cheez, lots of crooks lately!). I really enjoyed sitting at the bar and checking out the album cover parade on the big screen … and the recorded music along with it. I’m sure other clients have enjoyed seeing themselves on the slide show on the other screen. I hope the guys at Malarkey’s will have no trouble replacing what was taken. Maybe we can all consider dropping in for a drink and leaving a nice tip.
Dino Corvino said:
For a while I thought Lisa Stahl was working on the mural idea, but I have sort of fallen out of interest in that, as it is just too heart breaking.
I know someone paid for a large scale photo to be taken.
I think the Fillmor is an obivous choice, but those guys are busy with concrete and HVAC, so dressing is not all that high on their list.
Maybe talk to Stacy Ness at Mudrovich.
As far as Mularky’s goes, thats too bad. Apple TV, the thing that they stole, those are cool, but not all that easy to use.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:58 am #
lisastahl said:
We do have the mural in photograph form. A thought was we could do a full-scale recreation on panels. The panels could be painted during Festival of Arts, turning it into a community project. Now that the mural has been seen literally by thousands of people I think we could get the interest going. Panels could be displayed together or separately at places like the Fillmor, CVA, etc. We would need someone to draw it out. If there is interest in this project, I’d be happy to work with others to make it happen. Let’s check our calendars and set a date. Any takers?
January 30th, 2008 at 12:43 pm #
Tom Neal said:
FYI, the spring Exhibitour gallery night in downtown Wausau is set for May 16. Maybe this could dovetail into that event in some way. Lisa, you might discuss with Leah at Wausau Area Events.
As far as the panel by panel approach, it might be interesting to have multiples of each panel and then they can be mixed and matched in display installations to show different color and style combinations. Originally, I was thinking of a faithful reproduction of the original, but I can see where some variation and interpretation could be interesting too.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:07 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
You could contact the muralist directly if you want. I can help with that.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:11 pm #
martinjames said:
Sad to hear about the break-in at Malarkey’s. They are a good bunch of folks and worthy of our support. In regard to your proposal of stopping by for a refreshment and leaving a big tip….well, I’ll drink to that!
January 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pm #
kelley said:
Why is there such a drive to recreate the mural?
Granted, it was an inspiring work of art.
And it was created by a talented and trained local artist. But why try to recreate it rather than encourage original works?
The mural is gone. It’s unfortunate that it never saw the light of day until it was too late. But it was photographed, documented and will be missed.
Has anyone asked Marcus how he feels about recreating it? It was his work and as such it seems he would retain the intellectual property rights - or at least control of the future direction - of the work.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:37 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Kelley, why would anyone recreate, restore or copy any lost or damaged work of art for that matter? Yet, there are countless instances where such endeavors have been undertaken. It’s a labor of love. Some people in the community have an attachment to that mural that they’d like to preserve in more than photographs and memories.
And who is failing to encourage original works of art? The one (recreation) doesn’t preclude the other (original works). If I order fish from the menu am I discouraging others from going for the beef?
I don’t understand your objection. That which is lost can be had again if the resources and desire are there. Further, this might send a small message to civic leadership and the business sector that the community wishes to preserve elements of its culture that otherwise might be destroyed with impunity as a byproduct of progress. Wausau has seen plenty of that.
As to the original artist, in the original thread on this, one writer said he had contacted Marcus who expressed no reservations for the idea.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:57 am #
christopher said:
I think a better idea would be to create a new mural that reflects wausau’s arts and entertainment.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am #
Jim Carlson said:
If the mural was a ‘work for hire’, whoever paid for the mural would own the intellectual property rights, not the artist. To add complexity, whoever commissioned the photographs could legally own the photographs, unless the photographer argues they own the images; but neither may not be able to reproduce the images without the consent of the owner of the art itself. Got a lawyer?
I know I’m supposed to be more sentimental about the Pub and the mural, but I agree with Kelley. The mural and the Pub are gone. As much as it sucks, it is time to move on.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:54 am #
dwestcott said:
Amen!
Personally, the mural was never part of my pub memories anyway…and I spent over 25 years making memories there. It’s almost desecrating to the overall commemoration of the pub to continue to beat this mural shtick with a stick. The artist himself isn’t even that passionate about it. Put down the defibulators, step away and move forward. We’ve lost quite a few historic or memory-iinfused buildings throughout downtown Wausau…and we’ve done it with grace. Continuing to put salt in the wound of the pub fall is getting almost silly. For those of you who love the mural so much, commission one for your own home or business.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:50 pm #
lisastahl said:
Jim - Those conversations took place months ago.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:46 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Yikes, ouch. Salt on the wound.
I’ll take those last few as “no’s” … are there any “yes’s” out there? Should there be a public referendum? And really, am I to understand that re-creation of lost art is a bad idea itself, or just this mural in particular? How would it harm anyone if some other people chose to do this? I have zero history with that mural myself, but I do like it; it speaks to me of the blues. I don’t understand what almost sounds like a demand to not pursue this project. Call me “almost silly,” but losing your history “with grace” is still losing in my book. If someone isn’t interested, then don’t get involved. I started this article by asking if anyone was interested in it.
Hey, lisastahl, am I silly? Or is it time to move on?
February 1st, 2008 at 1:52 pm #
dwestcott said:
Sorry Tom. I’ll throw a Kreske’s strawberry pie in my face. Maybe it comes down to the subjective value of art…and I’m not really all that kean on the mural. Love jazz. Loved the pub. Go forth and prosper in your quest.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:07 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
For me, personally, having deep love for the man who painted the mural as I consider him a good friend, and the Pub (though those feelings are consistently conflicted)…I wanted to have the world love what Marcus N. did.
Now that it is over, I think they should find another muralist to do more art here in Wausau.
I think that we could commission artists to pain the bare walls inside all the parking ramps.
Give a wwall to an art class in a high school.
Make our city visually arresting.
Ahh, the debate about public spaces and the art they should be.
As far as recreating the mural, I know for a fact that Lisa and Bill handled that amazingly professionally, and the muralist totally was cool with the idea.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:18 pm #
lisastahl said:
Tom, No, I don’t think it’s silly at all. I have talked with a lot of people who are interested in the mural with one notable exception. I am fairly new to Wausau and didn’t spend that much time at the Pub other than for lunch. To me, the Pub was an authentic place and the mural is (was) a part of that place.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Thanks dwestcott. Jazz is big in my book, too. I agree with Dino, too, that it would be nice to “art up” the cement walls on the parking ramps and such. Make Wausau more arty, like it says it is. While we’re at it, how about a jazz mural …
I really wish Wausau was more jazzy … and all due respect to the well-known locally based individuals who have done their part to present their own styles of jazz in many events and venues here. But, wouldn’t a real jazz club be great? With touring talent we don’t otherwise get a chance to see? Don’t know if our populace would support it.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:34 pm #
lisastahl said:
I’m sorry to see that Clarke Place closed.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Me too … although I’ve never in my life been there. Really, have the days of going out to enjoy live music at a local club just dried up and blown away? Is it too pricey? Are people bored with music? Is the music that’s out there itself lacking in some way? Seems now if I’m out where a band is playing, people seem more interested in themselves and their drinking buddies than the entertainment.
I don’t want to wax all nostalgic and talk about “back in the day,” but I miss the experience of going out to see a musical attraction (not just a typical cover band or local soloist in the corner, but an actual “pay attention to them because they’re special” act). I don’t know if the coffee house in Amherst is still doing this sort of thing. I’m wishing huge luck to the Miller brothers with the Fillmor. Somehow I just sense a general lack of passion about music these days, except for the few fanatics I know.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm #
Dino Corvino said:
I think that Lisa has an amazing amount of leadership in the visual world. I think she can do just about anything, though painting the walls seems a bit insane and easy for codger to complain about.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:32 pm #
Tom Neal said:
Well, you brought up the idea, Dino. What, you backtrackin’ gettin’ all practical? And since when did you care about codger complaining? I thought you lived for that. Give me a wall; I want to reproduce an album cover.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:52 pm #
brian said:
The AppleTVs weren’t stolen from Malarkeys, just their computers. The computers can be easily replaced, but the data (all the pictures and things taken) cannot be replaced. What’s on the Apple TVs is still playing just fine. They’re working on getting new computers so they can start getting updated again.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:15 pm #