Living in the intensely urban area of Chicagoland, I am always looking for outdoor nature experiences to renew myself and share with my family. As an artist, I am also interested in viewing the artistic expressions of fellow artists. One benefit of city living is the many opportunities to view art in galleries and museums.
On occasion, there is even the chance to enjoy nature and art together. One such opportunity, to view art while surrounded by nature, presented itself at the Indiana Dunes this summer. Looking for a simple, close to home vacation, we headed to "the dunes" and were greeted at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center by the wonderful mural art of Ryan Christenson. Despite being positioned directly in the sun and the mid-day heat, the mural was in process.
As my children will attest, I talk to everyone and the opportunity to meet a painter so visibly in process was simply irresistible. Fortunately, the painter was welcoming and accessible for questions and conversation.
Ryan Christensen lives in Connecticut and has been painting since 2003. Having done a bit of graffiti art, Ryan signs his work with his tag name of Arcy. His mural work is fabulous. The application goes somewhat quickly and the image comes to life before ones eyes.
Watching him work with the spray paint cans was fascinating.
The application goes somewhat quickly and the image comes to life before ones eyes.
Talented graffiti artist with mainstream appeal Arcy has become a for hire mural artist. He's found a calling and fortunately for himself and his young family, is earning a well deserved income doing mural commissions around the country. Visitors to the Indiana dunes were fortunate that at some point the cans came out of the shadows with Arcy.
Thanks, Arcy, for sharing your craft with dune visitors this summer!
We always welcome inspiration to create our own artistic responses.
