Totem Mural
Title: Totem Mural
Medium: Acrylic and Spraypaint
Size: 15meters X 32.37meters
Year: 2014
Medium: Acrylic and Spraypaint
Size: 15meters X 32.37meters
Year: 2014
Artist: Addison Karl & James Bullough - JBAK
Location: Landsberger Allee 228 - Berlin Lichtenberg
For the long haul - one of those things you hear about from a good friend and exceptional fellow artist. At first glance it seems a bit overwhelming then you put your head down and buckle down for the application process. What to show, how to explain - will the work stand-up by itself? 10-15 applications like this per month - it is always the beginning with very little turn over to actual work or creation of beautiful things to come.
Maybe this one is different... After a few months we received a nice letter of acceptance. Surprised, happy - and "oh shit" are all simultaneous. Now the grind of what - so many factors to include, the building, audience, people that live there, colors, my collaboration with James Bullough, Howoge the ones organizing the whole project under LOA, my own interests, passion, scale and much more. The unknowing - is this the best artwork I can create for this project - will it be accepted - can I do better? Every question leads nearly to no answer but 45 more questions.
Winter months working online and in a studio going back and forth as to the possibilities and composition. After a long day of taking hundreds of mock-up photos somehow the very last photo taken has the concept we need. Planning out colors, theory and the collaboration aspect of the painting. Making a full canvas piece in the proportions of the wall to get the right details.
Time has come to present - in a room sits people loaded on every side except directly behind James and I. Overwhelmed - there is 3 times more people in the room then expected to be there. Pushing forward we begin to discuss and present our artwork and concept. It does not go well, we left discouraged and feeling all the holes to our artwork for this project. A week or so goes by - and again to our surprise we get another nice email asking for some revisions to our artwork.
Back to the studio, trying to fill those holes in - and fix what we can with the work. Coming to a point - where the collaboration is happy - we both created something in over 3 years of doing projects we are both happy with between James and I. This artwork compliments both sides - it is strong and subtle with room for the imagination and interpretation of the viewer. It has a strong positive message for it's new home on Landsberger Allee 228b in Lichtenberg. With fingers cross we send in the second proposal.
Waiting..... waiting..... waiting... doubt.... waiting.....
Email comes in - read it once, twice and for the third time it sinks in. The Totem Mural is accepted! In an instance we have been selected for the next Howoge LOA mural. I was sitting on my couch in my studio when I read it - luck for me - nearly speechless I show the computer and email to one of my best friends Adrian - he is screaming with excitement.
During all this process - it takes care of such a huge part of the painting - everything is nice planned out, prepped and nearly ready to go. The only thing that is left are the logistics before painting, materials and how to get up a 32 meter. We get the help of a good friend Dennis G. to help us organize and paint - then plan for the next 4 weeks of work.
Long days and nights, two nights to outline - the first going from sundown to sun up. Keeping the artwork in proportion as we do it in three sections and from different locations. No sleep back up to do it again the next day. The first week is long and unsure with the lift breaking 3 times, some rain and time counting down till we change machinery. 12-14 hours - 6 days a week is the norm to make this happen on schedule. Late nights coming home and barely being able to stand. Rising up early every morning, feeling the warmth of the wall radientating from the sun throughout the day. 4 weeks of nothing else - and the Totem Mural is finished. From meters away the seeping feeling of being proud and accomplished washes over. The kind words of passer-bys, neighbors and the local business owners. Making every long moment worth every second of it.
Could not have been done without the support and help from so many. James Bullough's collaboration, Dennis G., Petra G., AnneMarie, Carolin, Lucia, Moo, Nils, Jay, Graffiti Research Lap, Rika, Stephane L., Kristina and Ava, Adrian, Howoge, LOA, Bo, JUST Photography, Fredi, Andi, Editude Pictures and many many more.
photo credit JUST Photography http://1just.de/ - http://instagram.com/justberlin
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