Color Rendering of Proposed Mural

Color Rendering of Proposed Mural
by Chris Vincent

Thursday, September 30, 2010

THANK YOUs as big as the mural!

What a journey this has been!  Artist Chris Vincent Howard (Murals by Design, Waukesha) is nearing the end of the road that took her through one crazy hot summer of painting (and getting married!). THIS SATURDAY, Oct. 2, she will mark the end of the road with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the mural (Discount Liquor), followed by an evening of celebrating at Generations At 5 Points.

As hard as Chris has worked, she knows she would not have been able to complete the project without the help of some important charitable organizations.

Good Friend, Inc., has been the primary collaborator, joining Chris back in April through Diane McGeen's networking skills. We coordinated a group of friend pairs comprised of child representatives from all 17 elementary schools (from the 2009-’10 year) in the district to serve as junior artists. Together with participants from the Waukesha Community Art Project, another 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing after-school art programs for middle school students, the junior artist team painted leaves along the lower border of the mural August 7.

Before Good Friend was even on board, the Downtown Waukesha Business Improvement District contributed $2,500 toward the effort. In July, Good Friend secured a $1,000 grant from Arts Waukesha, a granting partner of the Wisconsin Arts Board. And last month, the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors’ philanthropic arm, the Youth Foundation, awarded a $2,000 grant to Good Friend for the project.

Other important contributors of resources include Benjamin Moore, the Waukesha County Historical Society, Judy Fuller, Diane McGeen, and Sue Baker. The Journal Sentinel and The Freeman have also been very generous with their coverage of this project.  Chris knows of many others who deserve special recognition -- just ask her at the ribbon cutting!  

If you donors and contributors could see how far my arms are stretched, you'd know that when I say we appreciate you "THIS MUCH", it's a whole lot of appreciation.  A really big THANK YOU!  Think mural big.

Chris is still accepting contributions for the $13,000 project, which was not fully funded. For more information, visit www.waukeshamural.com.