Local artist, Lincoln university create downtown mural
By: Erika Hepburn
Issue date: 6/18/07 Section: Features
Lincoln residents won't be alone anymore as they cross the 12th Street skywalk downtown.
On June 5, a giant mural covering both sides of the skywalk was unveiled. The mural, titled "Larger Than Life," depicts the cultural diversity of Lincoln, which was exactly what the artist, Larry Roots, tried to portray.
"As I was trying to transform the bridge, I came across the reality that it is a bridge," Roots said. "People walk across it.
"(The mural) is almost like a sidewalk along the street where, on a given day, you would see diverse and unique people."
The Downtown Lincoln Association and the Lincoln Arts Council commissioned the project. The council started it by donating nearly $15,000 to the project. This money was taken from the Tour de Lincoln project where artistic bikes were placed around town and auctioned off.
Ken Hake, chairman of the 12th Street Art Zone, played a significant role in getting the project started. First, ads were placed nationwide in magazines and newspapers. Around 60 different artists responded with their ideas, but local artist Larry Roots was the favorite among the committee members.
"The project cost about $66,000. I actually did raise all of the money," Hake said. "I wanted this to be a unified project in Lincoln and wanted to get local business to help out.
"I'm interested in the arts and it's a very worthwhile project if you look at the mural and you recognize the diversity of Lincoln. It really appealed to me."
Lincoln Action Program was another one of the many organizations deeply involved in this project. The program is known for helping refugees when they first come to Lincoln from other countries. Roots came to Sue Hinrichs, the executive director of the Lincoln Action Program, for some help.
Although not an artist herself, Hinrichs said she provided Roots with exactly the kind of people he wanted to portray in
his mural.
"Larry came to me and asked me to help him find refugees from around the world who live in Lincoln," Hinrichs said.
On June 5, a giant mural covering both sides of the skywalk was unveiled. The mural, titled "Larger Than Life," depicts the cultural diversity of Lincoln, which was exactly what the artist, Larry Roots, tried to portray.
"As I was trying to transform the bridge, I came across the reality that it is a bridge," Roots said. "People walk across it.
"(The mural) is almost like a sidewalk along the street where, on a given day, you would see diverse and unique people."
The Downtown Lincoln Association and the Lincoln Arts Council commissioned the project. The council started it by donating nearly $15,000 to the project. This money was taken from the Tour de Lincoln project where artistic bikes were placed around town and auctioned off.
Ken Hake, chairman of the 12th Street Art Zone, played a significant role in getting the project started. First, ads were placed nationwide in magazines and newspapers. Around 60 different artists responded with their ideas, but local artist Larry Roots was the favorite among the committee members.
"The project cost about $66,000. I actually did raise all of the money," Hake said. "I wanted this to be a unified project in Lincoln and wanted to get local business to help out.
"I'm interested in the arts and it's a very worthwhile project if you look at the mural and you recognize the diversity of Lincoln. It really appealed to me."
Lincoln Action Program was another one of the many organizations deeply involved in this project. The program is known for helping refugees when they first come to Lincoln from other countries. Roots came to Sue Hinrichs, the executive director of the Lincoln Action Program, for some help.
Although not an artist herself, Hinrichs said she provided Roots with exactly the kind of people he wanted to portray in
his mural.
"Larry came to me and asked me to help him find refugees from around the world who live in Lincoln," Hinrichs said.
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