CHIPPEWA NATURE CENTER MURALS

Somewhat stylized, the three murals above cover the basic activities to be seen in Chippewa life, from the processing of maple sap into sugar in late winter, through the spring removal of birch bark and planting of crops, to the autumn harvest of foods, preparation of skins, and hunting season. Colors were selected to fit in with the decor of the Michigan nature center in which they are displayed, and subject matter was largely determined by the client. The narrow vertical format made for quite a compositional challenge given the number of activities displayed in each panel. The winter maple-sugaring scene had to be designed with the aim of including a real tap and sap makak on the foreground tree, not shown here.

These murals are are of the 'portable' type, technically not true wall murals but rather large paintings. They were designed to be rolled for shipping purposes and as such are much easier for architects and designers to deal with than conventional direct-surface wall murals, which require an artist to paint on-site. These three pieces were painted on heavy, fire-retardant hand-primed canvas with flexible professional grade acrylics, and were intended to be displayed adjacent to one another as backdrops for three small thematic diorama displays of Ojibwa artifacts.

As with all S. A. Walton Studio murals, they are painted with only the most lightfast of paints and are quite washable as-is. Additional sealants may be applied if they are expected to be hung in high-traffic areas or within easy reach of children, or if additional UV protection is required by the client. Murals are made larger than their intended display space so that installers do not need to be concerned with shrinkage or walls that are not square. Canvas murals are convenient, as they can be cut to fit into almost any space, placed in awkward locations, and easily shipped almost anywhere in the world. There are size limitations dictated by the width and length of canvas rolls, it being difficult to obtain canvas wider than 11 feet in one direction. There are ways around this obstacle, but it takes additional planning.

Costs compare favorably with photomurals, so please do not hesitate to seek estimates for this form of work- canvas murals add a lively textural element that cannot be obtained with photomurals, and they have much greater depth and brilliancy. Sample swatches of painted and treated canvas are available for your personal inspection.

Chippewa Nature Center