A colorful mural depicting a lively garden is brightening an otherwise utilitarian concrete parking garage at the Uptown 500 complex in Wheeling.
Artist Brett Whitacre of Rockford is painting a mural on the side of the parking garage at 500 W. Dundee Road Wheeling. “I like bringing large projects to life and making things look nice,” Whitacre said.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Brett Whitacre sprays on the black background or a mural he’s painting on the side of a parking garage in Wheeling. The Rockford artist was commissioned by the village about three months ago.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Using exterior acrylic paint applied with a spray gun, spray cans and rollers, artist Brett Whitacre of Rockford is painting flowers and foliage against a black background on the facade of the multistory garage at 500 W. Dundee Road.
The “canvas” was estimated to have an area 2,800 square feet when the village commissioned Whitacre to paint the mural. He will receive up to $50,000 for his work, according to a measure approved by village trustees in May.
Flowers and plants adorn the side of a previously bare-walled parking garage in Wheeling. Artist Brett Whitacre of Rockford was commissioned by the village to paint the mural.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Brett Whitacre of Rockford views the progress of the a mural he is painting on the side of the parking garage at 500 W. Dundee Road in Wheeling.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
“I like bringing large projects to life and making things look nice,” Whitacre said.
The garage features the smoothest concrete he’s ever painted on, he added.
“It’s as smooth a marble in some places.”
A mural being painted on the side of a parking garage in Wheeling features a lush scene of flowers and other vegetation.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Village officials originally envisioned a “living wall” that featured plant life mounted horizontally on the garage, but that idea proved to be impractical.
Instead, larger-than-life plants designed to be seen from far away are being painted on the garage.
“This is forever changed because of me,” Whitacre said of the garage structure. “That’s kind of neat.”