The Maintainer
So, we were working on the mural last week when these two guys that work for Septa came walking up the tracks and over to us. They were all decked out in their work gear: bright orange shirts, jeans, hard hats, and work boots. They began talking to us by saying we were risking a lot doing graffiti out in mid-day sun light. We laughed and told them what we were up to. Then, still donning their hard hats and reflective sunglasses they offered us some good old train yard hospitality. Telling us we were welcome to use their bathroom, drink their coffee, or just take a break in their hang out called “The Tower” which was about a 1/2 mile down the tracks… Secluded from, well, everyone in the world. We said thanks and changed the subject. Anyway, in the end the lead guy, named “The Maintainer,” suggested that we throw him into the mural as a guy being tossed by the wind. Cute… But most likely we will just throw in a version of his hard hat. After all, its his turf and he should have some affinity to the painting he’ll be walking past everyday for how ever long he works there. So, that’s the update for now…
I missed the last mural paint time and they started the “Starry Night” swirls without me. I was really bummed out since that was the part I was looking so forward to. But, what’s done is done. And at least I can say they are taking it from my illustration (…that Mayor Vance Funk himself thought was pretty good and he was excited to see it go up). So, you can’t have it all. In the end, its gonna be awesome and I hope you all get a chance to check it out!
The Newark Train Station
So, below are the pictures of where I will be painting. There are a handful of us working on it and it is coming along slowly but surely. Due to a family wedding, a stomach bug, and my own kids fighting off sickness I haven’t been there in a week or more so, there may be some progress that I am unaware of. If you get a chance stop by and see it transform! You can pull in to the parking lot at the Newark Train Station next to the old Chrysler plant. And walk past the ticket booth and down to the platform.
The Mural Wall
The stairway from Route 896 down to the platform where the wall is
The trains go whizzing by on these tracks... quite loudly!