Wall to wall: Tisbury Mural Project
Granted, the theme "Historic Gateway to the Island" is broad. Still, the six entries for the mural to go on the exterior wall of the Tisbury Stop & Shop facing the Tisbury parking lot offer startling variety: Clam diggers, sailboats in Vineyard Haven Harbor, a mermaid riding a whale, a colorful beach scene, the historic Union Wharf, a visual timeline with pilgrims on one end and a present-day steamship on the other.
"The diversity is amazing," said an elated Deborah Medders, a member of the Tisbury Mural Committee, as she assembled the display last Saturday morning. "Each one is so much the Vineyard."
Photos by Jennifer Brown
On Monday, Sept. 15, the Tisbury Mural Project entered into its next phase, with a public viewing of the proposed designs at the Vineyard Haven Public Library. During this period, which will continue throughout September, everyone will have the opportunity to register their opinions about each submission by placing written comments in a box on the entry level of the library the beside the entries. The committee would like the participating artists, who represent four out of the six Island towns (two are from Vineyard Haven), to remain anonymous to avoid influencing anyone's judgment.
At a town meeting at the end of the month, the opinions of those who come and view the work will be considered in the decision process. "What we want to do is put these entries out for the public to view and to get their comments," explained Ms. Medders. "If we find there is overwhelming support for one of the pieces, then we want to take that into account."
The winning entry will ultimately be selected by the seven member Tisbury Mural Committee comprised of Don Amaral, Paul Brissette, Dolly Campbell, Judy Cronig, Nicole Matthew, Deborah Medders, and Robert Townes.
Under the supervision of the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School art director, Paul Brissette, a team of art students will be painting the 10-foot by 48-foot long mural throughout the fall and winter. While the production of the mural is to be completed at the regional high school, the mural committee extends an invitation to Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School students, as well as home school students to get involved.
The mural will be painted on panels of polytab fabric and then glued onto Azak plywood already mounted to the wall on site. This way, the team can avoid working on scaffolding and in adverse weather conditions. This technique, which incorporates relatively new technology, will allow for the mural to be removed in the event that the building is renovated.
The chosen mural will be unveiled to the public in the spring of 2009 when it is installed on the supermarket's north wall.
