THE ILLUMINATED CITY
Wayne, Nebraska, 2020
Painted on the north side of the historic Majestic Theatre, this mural adapts drive-in movie marquees to celebrate important aspects of the Wayne community. From the beloved Chicken Show to Wayne State’s Willow Bowl and the downtown staple Aqua Pop, community, culture, art, nature, history and pride each have their own lushly illuminated marquee. Other forms of illumination included are constellations (some real and others imagined), the Neowise Comet (that was visible in the summer sky), a drive-in movie screen and a blanket of fireflies stretching to the horizon. The mural was created in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant that community meetings to develop the mural’s themes had to be held on Zoom, while painting, usually with many volunteers, was done by myself.
