The 20’ x 60’ mural honors veterans who bravely fought to protect our freedom and was the vision of Omaha Artist Richard Harrison (of A Midsummer's Mural) who together with Mike Giron (of M. Giron Artworks) has been pursuing opportunities to beautify Leavenworth Street with the addition of colorful murals. Richard sketched the idea of a mural that evokes freedom by picturing a boy on a tire swing in front of a 60' long tree filled with rays of sunshine. The mural has text that says "thanks for those who protect our freedom" and the word freedom is in huge translucent letters that fill the wall. Richard took the design to the VFW and told them that he would try to raise the funds to create the mural at no expense to them. Thanks to all the sponsors that goal was achieved.
The mural was sponsored with generous funding from the Leavenworth Neighborhood Association, the Mutual of Omaha Foundation, The Nebraska Arts Council, and members of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church, who had a big pancake breakfast with the artists flipping pancakes.
Artists who worked on the painting include Richard Harrison, Mike Giron Rebecca Harrison, Jeremiah Neal, Pam Conyers-Hinson, Larry Lentz, and the students of the Kent Bellows Art Studio and Center for the Arts. Most of the Kent Bellows students were able to work on it for at least a few hours.
The artists will meet twice with students from Jackson Elementary School (part of their Completely Kids summer program) to use the mural project as a catalyst for learning. Students will meet the artists on Tuesday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. at the VFW mural site to discuss what freedom means to different people. The kids will be able to do an art project with chalk that expresses what freedom means to them. The next day, Wednesday, at 9:30 a.m. several veterans will visit the students at their school to talk about what freedom means to them and the choices they made in their lives to help protect our freedom.
Richard, Mike and Rebecca completed the mural on the outside of the Avanza grocery store on Park and Leavenworth last summer. The wall has paintings of giant fruits, vegetables and crafts made by the Jackson Elementary School children. Since then these three artists (and some others) have completed murals that cover most of the interior walls of the Avanza store. If you visit you will see a recreation of old style buildings from a south of the border town. The store will celebrate their new interiors on August 4th.
These same artists have already begun creating canvases to put up in the No Frills store on 35th and Q, and hope to be doing the same for the Bag and Save store on 15th and Vinton.
Mike Giron has also designed a mural for the west side of Midwest Photo Pro on 4314 Leavenworth and has begun a kick starter fund raiser to support the creation of that mural. The celebration of the VFW mural will include a sort of kick off for the new mural project.
Benson Plant Rescue has recently received funding from a Mayor's Grant for this team of artists to do giant floral mural on their new location at 7224 Maple. As soon as the design receives final approval from the Nebraska Arts Council, the mural work will go ahead. It will be styled after Mike Giron's previous mural on the Maria Bonita restaurant on south 24th street.
Individual Artists Who worked on the mural:
Richard Harrison began doing art in Omaha under the business name, A Midsummer's Mural in 1999. He has been teaching or working professionally in large scale art since 1989. Places you can see his work includes work includes Omaha, Chicago, South Carolina, and Denver. In Chicago Richard did work for The Chicago Art Institute and The Museum of Modern Art and The A.T. and T Corporate headquarters. He is an A+ rated member of the BBB. He has an MFA from North Carolina School for the Arts, and a Bachelor's in Art from Ottawa University, Ottawa Kansas Richard Has taught full time for five years including at The Virginia Magnet School for the Arts, and Lagrange College, in Lagrange Georgia. And he has taught part time at Belleview University, in Belleview Nebraska. He was a scene designer at the Omaha Community Playhouse for three years. He was awarded 6 Gold Key awards in the Scholastic Art Competition in Denver and he was a National Finalist in scene design for the American College Theatre Festival twice. Richard lives in Omaha. His work can be seen at http://www.amidsummersmural.com and a-midsummers-mural.blogspot.com
Mike Girón was born in New Orleans, 1970. He has featured in solo and group exhibitions, created public artworks even painting Mardi Gras parade floats. As a professor, he has influenced many artists, and has been curator of socially-conscious art exhibits. His chosen media include oil painting, murals, traditional and digital printmaking, and design. Mike currently lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife and children. His work can be seen at www.mikegiron.com
Rebecca Harrison is an Omaha muralist who has been working with A Midsummer's Mural for seven years. She will graduate with an art history degree from UNO in May. While at Omaha Central, she worked in Joslyn Museum’s JAMbassadors, and was a student at Kent Bellows Studio. Rebecca was president of UNO’s student art association and helped curate the online student publication, Apparatus. Rebecca was an exhibitions intern at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in spring, 2012. Rebecca just graduated U.N.O. after studying Art History and Studio Art there. She will soon be working with Dave Lowenstein on a mural for Hastings Nebraska under the Midwest Arts Alliance Mural Project, which is funded in part by the Nebraska Arts Council.
Jeremiah Neal is from Muskegon, Michigan, and attended college there. He is currently helping with supervision at Siena-Francis House’s “Artists in Recovery” program, with Dr. Ruth Margalit, UNMC, 2010 to present. He has a mentorship with art educator Eddith Buis, 2010 to present. Jeremiah was in the United States Air Force from 1976-79, and a Medic at Mercy Hospital in Michigan, 19880-89. He has exhibited at Siena-Francis House and the Scott Center (2009), a 1-man show at Hot Shops Art Center, (2010), a group show at Michael Phipps Gallery, (the “Luigi Waites Tribute”) and a 2-man exhibit at the Phipps Gallery, both in 2011. He has completed murals at Siena-Francis House, outdoors, the KROC Center, and the Silverstone Group, where he acted as mentor and supervisor for a team of artists .Personal: “I feel it’s in my DNA to contribute to society at this point of my life; to continue painting and writing to help others to see life as the adventure it is.” Contact: crossaddicted@yahoo.com
Pamela Conyers-Hinson is a sculptor who holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Studio Art and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership. She is a teaching artist for the Kent Bellows Studio & Center for Visual Arts, Joslyn Art Museum and Sheldon Museum of Art. Pamela has worked with various groups within the community, including those with physical and mental disabilities. She is also a teaching artist for WhyArt? Contact: conyhins@aol.com
Eddith Buis holds B.S., M.A. and Specialist degrees in art education, and taught with OPS from 1973-1997, and Metropolitan Community College, 1997-2012. Best known for directing public art events, Buis coordinated J. Doe, 5 years of sculpture exhibits at Leahy Mall, Fontenelle Forest, Lauritzen Gardens, the Lewis & Clark Icon Project both sides of the Missouri River, Bench Marks for the Kiewit Foundation, and “Bike Blast” for disadvantaged youths. Buis has extensive experience with public art processes. Contact: ebuis@cox.net
Lary Lenz was a man who lives in the neighborhood who has been a jack of many trades, including painting, and he was kind enough to help us with this project. We recommend him for his story telling abilities as well as his skills in painting. He has had a lot of amazing things happen to him in his life!
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