Muralist paints Eugene, has big sights for its future By Jacqueline Woge Emerald Reporter Travelers passing 12lh Ave nue and High Street may huve noticed a gray-toned mural coming to life on what used to be a pluin 1970s building wall Painted with water-based, block and white house paint, the scene shows a Northern Italian town, similar to the one artist Jim Evangelist's grandpar ents came from. "I cun't toll you how many little kids I get coming up all excited about this kind of thing," he said. "One family wus home-schooling their kids and brought the whole family out. I sat for a couple hours talking about murals and an swering their questions. These kids walked away with their eyes like saucers." Relocating from Plorida this past summer in order to evade “crime and crock," Evangelist learned the building's owners. Kohnen Larson CPAs, consid ered hosting a project by anoth er artist. Dut that project wus never started. Taking the initiative, Evan gelist approached the company with several ideas. The firm chose its favorite design and supplied paint and materials. To help pay for his lime, the company agreed that Evangelist could credit other businesses on the mural. Although Evangelist has gained some financial support, ho said other sponsors would be appreciated, especially to pay for a graffiti-proof, high tech, guaranteed-for-50-years sealer coat. ^ rr**o I* M«tu» Srxyflw People have come from cities throughout the Willamette Valley fuel to tee Jim Evangelist's Italian scene mural on 12th Avenue and High Street. The sealer coal would help the mural Iasi longer: bul I*' causo of the "rich, deteriorating and crumbly kind of scene," Evangelist said weathering will only enhance the image "As a last resort. I'll get a paint company from I’ortland to come ill and seal the wall and do a demonstration ol their product by trashing the paint ing," Evangelist said "I always find a way to get things to work Although some artists prefer to distance themselves from the public: and outside influences. Evangulist, enjoys discussing his work and Ids philosophy iilxnii the role of public art "I think landlords. business owners and building owners should all c onsider using vv.ill space for murals." he said I'rom his threu years ol expe rience as a nightclub owner. Evangelist has found that peo ple! truly appreciate! it when businesses take initiatives suc h as putting up a mural Evangelist said he believes that when a business puts S2.&00 into a mural project it is supporting the artist, slitmi lilting I ho env iromneiil and wiirk.pl.il <•, iiiul i muting i h.inge in .1 dynamic w.iy hvnngclist •'.nil that fur idtoul S5U.OOO one-tenth the cost it look to opi:n Olivo Street liu gene could i rente uii attraction t hut It h.it Is iiml visitors could •ipprtH date I’copli! Iiiivc i min' (ruin i dies .ill .irountl the Willamette V.il Icy lo sec Ins Italian scene One I,nly from Brilisli Columbia pl.inned Imr vuciition urountl visiting hugene to sec the mu nil. he said With the fresh, outside per specnve ui (i newcomer. uvuii gelist said ho believes Eugene is ready for a cullurul nmulssuncn. "Tho community is ready lo support focused, cleared. pro fessional and earnest efforts by creative and talented people in continuing to make this com munity even better than it is," he said Evangelist said ho sees nu merous opportunities in open buildings and open spaces around town He lias already outlined Ills next project, a Ti betan scene on the liread Stop building, at Willamette Street and Ifilh Avenue Besides working on the Koh non Larson and Bread Stop buildings. Evangelist is lobby ing businesses uIhiuI a down town dream project .1 mural on the large wallspuce in the parking lot at russ from Lane Community College's down town annex Presenting himself profes sionally lo business people Is a skill Evangelist got from his work as a paralegal Binding work in law "for the birds." Evangelist was drawn to painting sets, props and tan vases work lie had done as a volunteer Never formally trained, he learned lo paint by just "shutting up anti listening" to skilled people Evangelist then stumbled into doing murals and other publu work "kind of to prove to my girlfriend at the time that I really wasn't going lo get the job that she thought I should get. iit-t uuse i thought li was all political" Since then, murals projects Have "jusl kept happening " Bongos & Congos Hand Drums Drum Lessons music city 210 E. IT1MalP*oiO Eofl*n* BACK TO SCHOOL SAVINGS f ram# plus loam com Mon Single *159 Double *189 Queen*209 futoimI 686-5069 11TJ Alder DEVELOP & PRINT • 3” PRINTS 3«'5” 2„„‘I 50 ■ exp exp V set ■ * I coupon must accompany order. I ■ CAMPUS 1 HR PHOTO ■ 1231 ALDER • 683-4693 When only the best will do... 1917 FRANKLIN BLVD. 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