Vero Beach Mural: 2012

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Save the Date!

Well, aside from a few little fishies that Christine Thomas would like to add, the mural is ready to launch. We have the scissors, we have the ribbon, and now we have the date! So save the date--January 12th, 6-7 pm at the Community Center where the Vero Beach Mural resides. Wine and a nice variety of hors d'eouvres will be served, and many of the people featured in the mural will be in attendance.

We three artists are busily working on our legends and compiling the information and artwork therein. Vero Beach Art Club member and Mural Dedication Chairman Margaret Goembel is our expert coordinator for this event, and our whippersnapper VBAC Office Manager Christina Tascon is handling many of the time-sensitive, graphics, marketing and other coordinating duties.

The Reception is free and open to the public, so we expect a great turnout. We are so looking forward to formally presenting to the City this giant work of art which represents the paradise that is our Vero Beach. And thanks to all those, aside from we artists, who made this project possible.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Mural Launch Celebration in the Works!

Dear Vero Beach Mural Fans,

Stay tuned for news of a Reception/Mural Launch event, coming in January. The Vero Beach Art Club, the City of Vero Beach, and the Artists, Dawn Mill, Christine Thomas, and this blogger Judy Burgarella, are collaborating to bring the public a fitting event for such a wonderful gift to the City.

Visit this site often for news of our wonderful mural.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

July 18th - Our Gazillionth Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City. The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/).   Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/. The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'. Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592. Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.
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Wow. What a day.  My day to sit the gallery (Artists Guild Gallery), and Rita covered for me while I scooted over to the Community Center to see how the installation was going. I fully expected to see one or two of the panels up, but to my surprise they were completely installed.  My eyes teared up as I entered the Florida Room and the sight of all the panels up there altogether took my breath away. It looked incredible. Dawn and I just stood there staring at it in awe.

I guess the culmination of working on this big of a project for over a year has struck all three of us. Christine soon got back from getting her salad and we all got a bit giddy over it, hugging and laughing and getting all mushy. What a fantastic feeling, and we can hardly wait to show it to the public. So I laid the tablecloth down on the table (actually it was an old beach towel that's been knocking around in my car), popped the wine, poured it into the lovely 3 wine glasses I brought, and we gave a toast to a job well done.

I had been enjoying getting back my Mondays and Fridays and hadn't given a whole lot of thought to how great it would feel to see it in place, so it was certainly the high point of the day, and probably for the month. We talked about how we would make a legend, and probably visiting the mural to tweak a bit more now that it's installed and we don't have to wrench our backs moving them around the building.  The City and the people of Vero Beach and Beyond will get years of enjoyment out of the mural, and hopefully the City will enjoy recognition for all the wonderful attributes and exciting things to do in and around Vero Beach, some of which is depicted in this mural.

Left to Right, Dawn K. Mill, Judy Burgarella, Christine Thomas in front of Panels #1 & #2

Panels as they look installed

All panels digitally attached (variations in shads and colors due to separate photographs)

On the opposite wall resides the mural painted in 2001, which depicts the history of Vero Beach. Our new mural depicts the habitats of today's Vero Beach.

Older mural, painted in 2001, of which Dawn was one of the artists

Below are single photographs of each individual panel. Unfortunately, the first panel did not come out so hot, but I will be sure to get a better picture of it on my next visit.

Panel #1 by Judy Burgarella. Habitat: Downtown Vero Beach

Panel #2 by Judy Burgarella. Habitats: /Pine flatwoods, Scrub, Sandhill, Hammocks, Cypress Swamp

Panel #3 by Dawn K. Mill. Habitat: Cypress Swamp, Mangrove Swamp, Lagoon

Panel #4 by Christine Thomas. Habitat: Lagoon

Panel #5 by Dawn K. Mill. Habitat: Ocean Drive, Beach, Dunes

Panel #6 by Christine Thomas. Habitat: Beach, Coastal Strand, Ocean Reef

Well folks, that's it for today, actually it's already tomorrow--been posting for a while. The postings may be a bit sparce from now on, unless we paint or have ideas we're willing to post which incidentally are many! Our minds--we three--work overtime with ideas when we're together, so stay tuned. And also stay tuned for news of when the launch of this wonderful project is. In the meantime, it can be viewed whenever the room is not being used, so stop in and take a peek.

Ciou!
Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

July 16th, our 100dth+ Mural Painting Session

Cruiseliner and Sailship on Panel #6 by Christine Thomas

Seagulls and Sailboard by Christine Thomas

Close-up of Seagull with fish by Christine Thomas

Sailboarder and passenger by Christine Thomas

Well, that's all for this post. Another coming that I'll post tonight, and it's a doozy!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Saturday, June 23, 2012

June 22nd, Our 94th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

Seagull - looks like he's taking a dive!l

Christine's seagull, in the context of his surroundings on Panel #5

Turtle life . . . an integral part of the shoreline in Vero Beach

Well folks, that's all for now, just dribs and drabs until the mural is completely finished, tweaked and installed. I'll post as more work is done.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

June 20th, our 93rd Vero Beach Painting Session

Fishing boat by Christine Thomas in Panel #6

Fishing boat with sailfish

The "Aida"

Baby turtle by Christine

Turtles by Christine Thomas

Well, that's all folks. I may pop over to see them paint or help out on Friday if time permits. The mural is looking great, and we can hardly wait to show it off to y'all!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

June 18th, our 92nd Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

Christine Thomas' Sailfish on Panel #6

Sailfish picture under the rising sun

Picture of our workspace, with all panels up to be tweaked

Dawn finished up this section of Panel #4

Below Dawn worked on improving the transition between Panel #4 and Panel #5, where she felt that the dividing line was too strong. Looks good now!

Transition from Panel #4 to Panel #5

I was able to get a good photo of Dolce, a pretty little Hispanic girl who works where I teach art. It really helped to have an image to work off of.

Hispanic mom and little girl on Panel #1

Little Hispanic girl on Panel #1

Well, that's all for now folks. I may not work on the panels again until they are installed. We agreed that we can always do a little more light tweaking on a ladder. Unless of course they need my help for something before installation. So that's it until I get some images from the Dawn and Christine, who still have a little more work to do. I will keep this blog alive through the launch in the fall, and keep you posted on any relevant happenings with this mural.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Saturday, June 16, 2012

June 15th, our 91st Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

Christine Thomas's pelican on Panel #4

Monday I hope to work on the murals if possible. As long as they are set up and Christine is working still, I'll go and tweak a couple of things. Perhaps put beautiful Dolce's face on the hispanic mom with child. Dolce works at the gated community where I teach painting., a really sweet girl.

So check back and perhaps there will be more interesting posts yet to come.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

June 13th,our 90th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

NOTE: The Vero Beach Mural Project is being Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club as a gift to the City. The artist members of the Vero Beach Art Club who are volunteering their time and talents are Dawn Mill (Project Manager), Christine Thomas (www.innerspacesandouterplaces.com), and Judy Burgarella (http://www.burgarellaart.com/). Examples of artists' work can also be found on www.verobeachartclub.org/. The Mural consists of six stretched canvas panels, 36' long by 8' high, each panel 8' x 6'. Created in and for the Community Center, in their "Florida Room," 2266 14th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida USA, 772-978-4592. Visitors are welcome to watch the artists paint between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.

Today all three of us were painting, although I had to leave by 1:30 to teach an art class. We did not rush through anything, although there were long quiet times when we were busy. Had lots of conversations about a myriad of things, and did a lot of laughing in the proces. Dawn painted some of her outside edges, as did I, and we both worked on temporary protective corner covers (booties) and painting the spots where we removed the year-old protective tape which took the paint off the corners. Earlier tonight Christine sent me pics of the finished shuttle and clouds on panel #6 that she did after I left, which made me very happy because now that all the upper parts of the panels are finished we can have Rob's crew install them in the Community Center's Florida Room either the end of this month of beginning of July. A whole year has passed and it's amazing that no significant damage has occurred to any of the six panels.

Friday's painting session, which I missed because of a show, was productive, the photos of which I have already posted. However, Chirstine modeled for me her new invention which helps her arms from getting tired because of holding the palette for an extended period of time. Below is her invention ... which cracked me up! (Certain ample body parts assist in the function of this ingenious invention)

"Cigars, cigarettes, cadmium orange, cobalt blue?

What the . . ?

Christine, with her "Palette-Assist" invention. Actually it works pretty good. Too bad she had no rope!

Christine in our work area

Christine's Panel #4 with ibis flock finished

Shuttle and sky area by Christine

Dawn working on painting the edges, with the old mural in the background

At day's end this is where we squirrel them away for the week. Weekends Rob brings them to his office for safe keeping.

Well folks, that's it for now. Almost there. I have a show Friday so won't be at the mural, but perhaps Monday, so check back after that to see if everything's finished and posted.

Ciou!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Saturday, June 9, 2012

June 8th, our 88th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

DONATIONS NEEDED TO FINISH AND PROTECT

THE VERO BEACH MURAL

The Vero Beach Mural Project is nearing completion and will be installed at the VB Community Center at the end of June. Sponsored by the Vero Beach Art Club and created by members Dawn Mill, Christine Thomas and Judy Burgarella, additional funds for this project are needed to purchase protective covers for both the old and new murals, and make adjustments to the old mural. Please consider sending a donation to the Club to help finish this gift to the City of Vero Beach, which will be a lasting legacy from the members of the Vero Beach Art Club.

As the Vero Beach Art Club transitions through some austerity issues as other clubs have in these challenging times, we muralists would like to put out an appeal for help from the art-loving public. Funds are needed for the Mural Project for the following reasons:

1. To purchase clear Lucite protectors to cover the outside edges of the old and new murals. The old mural is beginning to show signs of damage, as the Florida Room in the Community Center is used by adults and children alike for a variety of activities

2. To purchase three 6’ wide by 2’ high custom stretched canvases for the replacement of informational inserts (legends) on the old mural (see photo below), which interrupt the flow of the paintings. Our plan is to continue the painting pattern of the mural on the new 6’x2’ canvases, and install these legends over the doors between the two murals, making an informative transition between the old and new murals. Muralist and fine artist Merena Cadorette has graciously consented to paint them for us.

All muralists have donated their time for this very worthwhile project, which is a priceless legacy from the Vero Beach Art Club to the City and people of Vero Beach.

Twelve years ago members of the Vero Beach Art Club completed the mural, “History of Vero Beach,” which has been on view in the Community Center ever since. In June 2011 under the direction of Dawn Mill, one of the original muralists, she, Judy Burgarella and Christine Thomas began a new mural depicting the habitats of Vero Beach, also measuring 36’ x 8’, which will be installed across from the old mural and will transition into it. It is almost completed, and you can follow the progress from start to finish on this blog by simply scrolling to the bottom and clicking on “older posts,” which can be viewed all the way back to its beginning in June of 2011. We have devoted most Mondays and Fridays to this project for a year.

Please consider donating to this very worthy project soon so that we can proudly launch its debut in the fall. And please indicate within your donation "For Mural Project."

If you need further information please contact either Dawn Mill at 772-567-5828, Judy Burgarella at 772-581-8281, or Christine Thomas at 772-359-8809.

and now to continue the postings . . .

Well, I've been M.I.A. again Friday, and am now posting Saturday for Dawn and Christine. I had an art show to prepare and set up for the Sebastian River Art Club, so did not pitch in with the mural that day. I am calling my panels done, although there were other things that would have been fun to paint into it or tweak. Further tweaking can even be done after the panels are installed, but it will have to be done on ladders.

Christine and I observed that we both have improved in our mural painting skills since beginning this project over a year ago, and some of the elements we painted in at the beginning are not quite as striking as the later ones. Hopefully I will pitch in next week if needed, or at least stop for pictures for some final postings before the canvases are permanently installed. So Christine took some pictures with her phone which came out pretty good, and here they are:

Flock of Ibis flying on Panel #4 by Christin Thomas

White pelicans on the shores of the Indian River Lagoon on Panel #3 by Dawn Mill

White Egret in flight by Dawn Mill on Panel #3

Opossum family in newly-enhanced foliage on Panel #3 by Dawn Mill

These finishing touches are so important to the overall look of the mural project, and will help to make it more entertaining, especially for the children who will be enjoying it for years to come.

Stay tuned for the final finishing touches!

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

June 6th, our 87th Vero Beach Mural Painting Session

Sunrise by Judy, turtle by Christine

I worked until about 11:00 this morning, as it was my turn to man the Artists Guild Gallery from 11-3:00, so Christine and Dawn painted without me. Christine just sent me the below photo of an opossum family that Dawn painted in on Panel #3--so-o-o cute, in a scary kind of way!

Oppossum family painted in on Panel #3 by Dawn Mill

More to come, as I find the other images on 3 devices plus whatever other pics Christine sends me. Oh, and one of the devices is my old camera, which I finally found today at the Artists Guild Gallery.

OK, got the pictures, and below are a couple of photos Christine had taken from her i-phone ~

Panel #3 - Hummingbird painted today by Dawn Mill

More Eel, painted by Christine Thomas today

Below are more photos taken earlier in the week, which did not get posted due to time constraints.

Christine painting sign on Panel #4

Flock of Ibis sketched in by Christine Thomas

Christine has added divers in the distance in Panel #4

Christine has bumped up the color on her diver

On Panel #3, Dawn Mill has added a duck family

Moorhens Dawn has added, along with more reeds in the water of Panel #3

Judy painting top edge of a panel - so bo-o-o-r-r-ing!

This is where (below) our panels are propped as we work on them. Sometimes we must get them off the floor and prop them on chairs or tables to minimize backaches.

The muralists' workspace

Pictured below is where we put our panels out of harm's way during the week. Even so, we worry about the many activities that go on in this room--children with hoola hoops, dancing, acrobatics, with table and chairs moving around, etc. Then when the weekend comes there are all types of shindigs going on in this very busy building, and the panels must be carried through hallways, up stairs onto the stage and placed leaning against a wall behind the piano. The piano is on wheels, so we always hope that no one pushes it into our panels. On some weekends when the stage is being used, Rob Slezak, the Recreation Director, must carry the panels down narrow hallways and store them safely behind locked doors in his tiny office.

We are very grateful for all Rob's and other staff's efforts in trying to keep the canvas panels out of harm's way for a whole year. Not a minor inconvenience for them. And now, so close to being installed, we're almost there. They will be beautiful and interesting, and will look spectacular along with the other 36' mural with both of them reflecting in the mirrored wall opposite from where they will be installed.

So stay tuned for the finishing touches.

Judy Burgarella
Blogger for the Vero Beach Mural Project