From Mundane to Memorable
There once was a building in Rome, Italy that needed a little sprucing up, so the powers-that-be hired a young artist to do just that. And with a little paint, some scaffolding, and no doubt, an ungodly pain in the neck, the Sistine Chapel became one of the world's greatest treasures.
Here we are some 500 years later, and there’s yet another building in Rome that could use a little love.
OK, so this time we’re in Rome, Wisconsin, and the building doesn’t hold the same significance as the cathedral in which popes are crowned, but it’s a building, nonetheless, in need of the talents of a young artist.
The building, Rome’s Public Works building, was built as a utilitarian warehouse for trucks, tractors, and traffic signs, and it serves that purpose well, but that doesn’t mean it needs to stand unlovingly on the corner of the town's most traveled intersection - State Highway 13 and Alpine Drive.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, it’s not hideous. It’s just boring and uninspired. Kinda like dad in his khakis and cardigan. He looks OK, but wouldn’t it be nice if he added a splash of color once in a while?
So, that’s exactly what the Town of Rome has done. Added a splash of color.
After an extensive search for an artist who is not only talented but has the imagination to capture the heart and soul of Rome, Kiba Freeman was selected to paint a wraparound mural spanning the east and south sides of the building.
KibA, as he’s known, was selected from several talented applicants - some with lots of mural experience, and some looking to spread their creative wings on such a grand canvas for the first time.
KibA is definitely of the former group with dozens of commissioned murals under his belt including the Carbon Cycle mural he finished earlier this year in Madison, and the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum mural in Stevens Point - two projects that he describes as “way too much fun.”
And how apropos is it that as an art student at UW-Stevens Point, KibA had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy, where he spent much of his time in Rome surrounded by the work of Masters? Though that may or may not have factored into the decision to choose him, the Rome-to-Rome connection is kinda fun to think about.
So, that’s all well and good, but some might still be wondering, do we really need to paint the side of a building? The answer is no. We don't need to, but why not? Especially since it’s been proven, since the beginning of time, that public art has an undeniable positive effect on communities. As Lisa Kubis, Executive Director of Visit Rome, put it:
“Obviously a primary objective of a mural is to beautify, but it goes much deeper than that. Murals build a sense of community. They make people happy. They lift their spirits and, for local residents especially, they create a sense of pride.”
KibA obviously agrees.
“When I paint a mural, I think about the viewer. I want to create something that they can see themselves in. I try to imagine it first through the eyes of my daughter. The innocence of a child removes the burden of apprehension that we, as adults, have accumulated in our lives. It adds a sense of whimsy and fun that would otherwise be stifled.”
And the Public Works building project meets that objective beautifully. With all the trimmings that define Rome - majestic trees, sand dunes, wildlife, bird watching, motor sports, and so much more - painted in a palette of rich, vibrant colors, it has definitely turned the mundane into memorable.
Sorry dad. The khakis just weren’t cutting it.
So, next time you’re in the area of 13 and Alpine, be sure to take a minute to admire this beautiful new addition to the landscape of Rome. It will, without a doubt, put a smile on your face.
BTW, if you’re wondering about the upper case ‘A’ at the end of his name, KibA says he started doing that early on as his signature. “It’s just another expression of my creativity. It doesn’t really signify anything special. If nothing else, it’s just fun.”
Written by: Lydell Capritta
