A First Look at Joe Maurer's 'The River Above Us'
have you seen downtown Eau Claire's newest mural?
Evelyn Nelson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Along the scenic Chippewa River State Trail, muralist Joe Maurer has completed his ongoing public art project — dubbed as “nature graffiti” — which seamlessly blends urban aesthetics with the untamed beauty of the natural world.
On June 30, Maurer shared the 150-foot-long mural within the pedestrian tunnel located off 5th Avenue near Mayo Clinic (1221 Whipple St.) in Eau Claire, had been completed.
Maurer has since retitled the ground-to-ceiling mural “The River Above Us,” a change from its previous title, “Dam Builders of the Chippewa.”
"That space is immersive, we ended up doing a lot more work on the ceiling than I ever planned to," Maurer said. "Once you get going on a project, the mural has its own internal language of color."
The central themes of this evolving art piece, according to Maurer’s GoFundMe page for the mural, embody an exploration of the local landscape's ecological and historical narratives.
As cyclists and commuters traverse through the tunnel, they will encounter projections of the natural world and how they blend with urban infrastructures. These include what Maurer described as the "underdogs" – beavers, woodpeckers, and frogs – along with other hidden surprises on the path.
"I wanted that big experience at either end of the tunnel — where you have this big color — then the woodpeckers jump out at you," Maurer said. "Then, maybe later during another visit, you will see the frog. A couple of years from now, somebody will discover something new."
Since the mural was completed, Maurer has enjoyed sitting along the end of the tunnel — observing and listening to passersby — as they discover the tunnel's critters and creative themes.
Follow along with Joe Maurer’s mural updates via social media online
(@joemaurer.artist).
