Fish Out of Water

I was contacted about doing a mural with the InterUrban Art Haus in Overland Park; I got excited. When Overland Park, Kansas, started its growth, a set of rules was established for the area on signs, building materials, and even colors for homes and businesses. These rules also meant that murals outside traditional history murals were currently off the table. The team at the InterUrban Art Haus worked hard to get new permissions and get past those barriers. They opened the doors for a new generation living in the area.

When I was asked to work on their studio space in the heart of downtown Overland Park, I looked at the old rules, the situation of change, and what that felt like for me and some of the residents who had reservations. I wanted to keep the brick. There were specific brick styles and colors on the list for the area. I didn’t want to wipe that out. The choice for the fish was to tap into a couple of things. It was something I enjoyed since I was a kid, but for the most part, it was not an overwhelmingly challenging image. The Bluegill is a local fish for both Missouri and Kansas. I lived in Missouri and was painting an urban style in the suburbs of Kansas. I was a fish out of water, and so was this art for this neighborhood.

The bright colors, scale, and texture cut through the landscape, creating a new look on an older approach.