Now
Fair
32°
High
33°
Low
26°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Local
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Mural is newest addition to downtown art corridor

Comments 14 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

BY DREW KERR / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Jun 06, 2007 - 12:30:26 am CDT

In 20 years, Beer Deng Maluil went from hiding in the bush of southern Sudan to being depicted on the downtown skywalk on 12th and O streets.

“I could never have expected anything like it,” the 27-year-old from Bor Town, Sudan, said Tuesday as Lincoln leaders gathered to applaud a new photographic mural. “I feel like a celebrity.”

Deng Maluil, who has lived in Lincoln for five years, is one of 21  residents depicted in the 15-foot-tall mural, titled “Our Community ... Larger than Life.”

Story Photo
Lincoln artist Larry Roots created this 15-foot tall photo mural will cover the north and south sides of the 12th Street skywalk, located between O and N streets. The photos depict individuals of different ethnicities, gender and age who emphasize the diversity seen in Lincoln. (Ted Kirk)

The transparent film layered on the 86-foot-long skywalk was designed by Lincoln artist Larry Roots. The artist used computer software to enlarge the images and give them a painted look.

The project represents the “effects of globalization within our own community,” Roots said.

“When I was looking at this bridge and trying to transform it into something else, I thought it could represent, literally, a human bridge,” he said. “The people are the lifeblood of the community. This shows us that.”

Roots’ concept was selected in a national search that drew about 60 applicants. From start to finish, the project took nearly two years to complete.

The photo mural is the latest addition to Lincoln’s 12th Street Art Zone project, which runs from M Street north to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.

The Downtown Lincoln Association raised $60,000 for the project from local foundations and businesses.

“It’s going to be really interesting to see how the community embraces it in the future,” said Ken Hake, the chairman of the 12th Street Art Zone committee.

Reach Drew Kerr at 473-7223 or dkerr@journalstar.com.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Local > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
It's nice wrote on June 6, 2007 7:34 am:
" To all those people expecting massive traffic problems because of this - you really need to calm down. It's very understated and unobtrusive. People are more likely to get in a wreck because of a cute girl on the sidewalk than because of this thing. "

 Lot of Money wrote on June 6, 2007 8:54 am:
" I know it's not taxpayer money paying for this thing, but $60,000 is still an exorbitant sum to dish out for this mural. I can't possibly fathom how it cost this much to create this thing. It's a very underwhelming piece of art. "

 Tess wrote on June 6, 2007 8:59 am:
" While this looks nice, certainly the association could have donated that $60,000 to the City Mission or our troops families? There is always something more important to do with the money. "

 GMP wrote on June 6, 2007 9:02 am:
" A huge smile broke out of my face when I saw the "cowboy" from Havelock immortalized on the skywalk. What a wonderful addition. This really does belong to the people of Lincoln. Everyone is there. "

 liz wrote on June 6, 2007 9:06 am:
" What a wonderful addition to downtown! I don't think it's underwhelming at all. I think it's a very meaningful display of Lincoln's committment to building community. "

 Just my opinion wrote on June 6, 2007 9:42 am:
" Okay, how long until they take this eyesore down? I think the way the skywalk was looked much better. "

 "There is always something more important..." wrote on June 6, 2007 10:41 am:
" Yeah, there is always something more important for someone else's money. You should donate your own money where you like and stop complaining about others. It is not a waste, nor is it exorbinant. Large art projects are expensive and a good investment, so we all don't have to live in a grey, paved world. "

 Fannstoma wrote on June 6, 2007 11:26 am:
" Great Mural! Great Story! "

 Great art work. wrote on June 6, 2007 12:38 pm:
" Great art work. Those who think of an eyesore could just take another street. "

 ALW wrote on June 6, 2007 12:48 pm:
" It even has a downtown liberal metro sexual male carrying a man-bag. Is he wearing Birkenstocks, too? "

 bobby don wrote on June 6, 2007 1:18 pm:
" I don't have a problem with the mural near as much as with the walk itself and what it represents. When this walk was done it was supposed to put downtown back on the map. Where has it helped? Downtown is a restaurant and bar college community. Even with the new proposed condo development it will still be a college community. The planners seem to have grandious dreams of lincoln becoming a retirement center. It ain't gonna happen. "

 Beedle wrote on June 6, 2007 2:25 pm:
" I have to be honest, seeing those giant people looming over me in my car gave me a start the first time I drove by. "

 Tess Schwenka wrote on June 6, 2007 4:00 pm:
" I think it is a great idea, it involves culture and puts more of an artsy look downtown. I think it is something that people from all over the state can come and see. It is an attraction, and attractions do cost money. And before no one really paid attention to the skywalk. I think that this was an awesome idea. It looks great! "

 Great job wrote on June 8, 2007 8:57 am:
" As a downtown regular, believe me this is a great addition - the scale is just right and the treatment creative. The artist is to be commended for replacing a true eyesore with innovative treatment that uniquely speaks to our community. $60,000 of private money isn't a lot for a project of this quality that will have a long life span. I'm looking forward to more of this type of treatment on the other bland skywalks that populate downtown "

Ads by Yahoo!