Parks and Recreation Department Unveils New Mural at Reverend Butler Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2011

For more information contact
Barb Dunbar, Operations Coordinator, City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3498 or [dunbarb@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:dunbarb@bloomington.in.gov]

[Mural on the restroom building at Butler Park|image:8992,left]Bloomington, IN - The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department today announced the completion of a new mural, painted on the restroom building at [location:14], 812 W. Ninth St.

The untitled mural by artist Mike Burchfield features cartoon characters from generation-spanning eras, from Mr. Magoo (created in 1949) to Underdog (television debut in 1964) to Bart Simpson (television debut in 1987). The mural subtly illustrates what Burchfield calls "paint wars," with each cartoon character holding a paint brush, roller, spray paint can, or some other paint-related tool.

"The main idea was to get a conversation going between kids and their parents," said Burchfield. "The different generations of charactes get kids and parents to talk. I wanted to do something that everybody could see and enjoy."

The Parks and Recreation Department supplied the paint, and Burchfield created and painted the mural at no charge.

"Bloomington's city parks, and trails like the B-Line Trail, have proven to be ideal places for large and colorful murals like the new one at Butler Park," said Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department director Mick Renneisen. "Well-planned and painted murals like this one are especially appealing additions to our parks."

The mural, created with a specially forumulated, weather-resistant Austrailian brand of spray paint, is expected to hold its vibrant hues for 15 to 20 years.

Other mural artwork on city property includes a mural on the bathhouse wall at Mills Pool; a tile mural at the playground at Lower Cascades Park; tile murals at Peoples Park; and two painted murals along the first phase of the B-Line Trail between Rogers Street and Second Street.

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