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La Cigarra
“La Cigarra” by Aaron Johnson-Ortiz is a beautiful mural placed in St. Paul’s Chroma Zone. It is comprised mainly of a set of hands holding a Cicada, as blue and yellow streamers flow away containing phrases in Spanish. On either side of the mural, which covers two adjacent sides of a gas-station building, lies a sun and a moon shown a bright yellow/orange color and cool blue, respectively.
The piece does not show much symmetry or patterns structurally but is very eye-catching in the sense of color use, shape and texture. The colors are bright and draw attention to key components of the piece. The text on the ribbons is a bit difficult to fully translate to English but can be roughly translated. The ribbons appear to read "Do not sing me songs of love, for I do not want to know what they are” and "Like a rumor that sneaks in, you go asking, 'Will I live?'"
Symmetry
The colors in this mural seem pastel-like, although many of the colors are lighter & bright. The brown hands, resembling a tree, holding the cicada, and green leaves behind are the main focus points of the mural, with the contrast between the hands and cicada drawing the viewer’s attention to the focal point of the piece. The mood and tone of this mural seem like they want to be more stable throughout most of the mural but with hints of inspiration and life stemming from the hands and cicada. The flowers also are different colors on each side, with the roses by the moon and a bright-pink flower by the sun. Many earth tones were used in this mural to show the nature aspect of the mural and components themselves. Line is the biggest component of this mural, where most of the composition of each shape is made of lines.
Color
The size of the lines mimic the size of the shape they compose, with very broad strokes being in the hands. These curves create a sense of organic movement, making the composition feel alive and interconnected.
Size
The lines give a sense of nature within the mural, the combination of the broad strokes and brown tint on the hands look similar to how the trunk of a tree is composed. Thick outlines around major components, such as the hands and moth, help define these focal points against the intricate background, adding depth and clarity. The texture in this mural is prominently seen through the brush strokes throughout each piece of the mural. Very broad strokes are noticed in the hands, where there are layered, shorter strokes in the sun, almost looking like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”. The use of these lines and strokes are more seen in the “living” objects, whereas the ribbons look smoother.
Line
The artist uses the wall’s surface to create layers, with distinct foreground, middle ground, and background elements. The hands, moth, and ribbon are in the foreground, while the flowers and leaves serve as the middle ground. This layering allows for the mural to have a sense of depth and seem a lot larger than it actually is. The depth created by these layers enhances the three-dimensional environment, giving the viewer a sense of actual nature.
Depth -
DAKHOTA ANCESTORS
The arrangement of the mural is very symmetrical. At the center of the mural is a budding flower and the there is a woman’s face on each side of the flower. On the other side of the women’s faces there is another set of flowers. The focal point of the mural is on the two women that are facing each other. The Mural is full of different bold and vibrant colors with a solid dark grey backdrop. The simplicity of the backdrop makes the color of the women’s earrings and shirts stand out even more. The bright color gives an upbeat and positive vibe to the mural. An even thickness black line outlines almost every shape within the mural. The black line gives a crisp and polished finish to the mural making it feel extremely professional and detail oriented. The only shape in the mural not outlined by black are the solid white triangles within the earrings while even the polka dots on the shirt are outlined. The lines are both straight and sharp as well as rounded in the face and braids. The mural has the texture of a cinderblock wall behind it. When looking at the piece from a far the texture isn’t noticeable because your eye is drawn to the crisp colors and women’s faces however when you get up-close to look at detail the block texture is noticeable. The overcoming of the texture gives the women depicted an air of resiliency and overcoming obstacles in their own personal lives as they conquer the texture of the wall derailing their spotlight. One of the ways that the artist creates depth is within the women themselves. The braids of the women are obstructing the view of the women’s shirts and part of their faces. The way the jaw is outlined also creates a sense of depth with her chin seeming to protrude slightly from her throat. -
La Cigarra
La Cigarra is composed of many different symbolic references including hands holding a cicada, a sun and moon, flowers and other foliage, and ribbons branching out on both sides of the hands. The hands are front and center on the mural, standing out as the focal point. The flowers and foliage fill in the background but still give meaning to the mural, and the sun and moon are at the top of the mural expressing that time is passing. Together they bring a great story during a global epidemic. Lots of bright colors are used in this mural like reds, yellows, and blues. These colors seem to brighten up the mural and uplift the mood. The warm colors help represent coming out of a dark time, and the sunlight makes the colors “pop” even more. Similar lines are used throughout the mural. They are mostly thin and neat lines that have curves that form their object. They do not interfere with the objects and make them distorted, so we know what the pieces are. The lines are like this to not distract or take away any aspect of the mural and not draw attention away from the meaning and colors. The short lines that are brush strokes in the hands, moon, and sun enhance the texture of the mural. Short brush strokes are used when painting the hands, moon, and sun, giving the mural a sense of texture within the mural. This causes those pieces to pop out to the eyes and become the focal point of the mural. These short strokes also help give the mural a sense of depth, giving a feeling of a true foreground and background. The artist uses the use of foreground to express what he feels is most important, again which is the hands/cicada and the moon and sun. The foliage and flowers are more in the background to not be the focal point, but still to use up space and bring meaning to the mural. Johnson-Ortiz does a great job of using the foreground to express what is most important to him, while still filling up blank spaces in the background with the foliage. -
Untitled
This highly intricate and abstract style of graffiti is illustrated by interlocking letters, complex designs, and vibrant colors which to new viewers often making the text difficult to read, this is known as "Wildstyle". This mural is a remarkable piece of work and it was a very cool experience. The composition of the mural included a Wild style format along with random figures and white spray painted icons in the middle of the letters. Along with this, Smith utilized an array of colors much purple and warmer colors including orange and yellow. Complimented with the array of color palettes smith used several different shapes to make the complexation of the piece stand out. The brick texture of the mural also compliments the “Wildstyle” approach because it contributes to the urban appearance of the piece. This piece also took up the entirety of the side of the building making this a very large space that is taken up. This very much so made the piece more appealing to the people who are able to experience this form of art. Color: The mural features a vibrant array of colors, with a focus on purples, warm oranges, and yellows, creating a dynamic and eye-catching palette. Size: Spanning over the entire side of a building, the mural is massive in scale, making it both immersive and eye-catching. Depth: Smith incorporates intricate shapes, Wildstyle lettering, random figures, and spray-painted icons, layered over the brick texture to enhance the mural's complexity and urban aesthetic. -
Dreamed Many Things
Scale: Spans across the entire wall height of the wall, also very wide. The human figure is large but not dominant. The “portals” that the human figure is bouncing between each take up almost a half of the painting. Composition: The human figure diving between each “portal” is the main focus. She isn’t very large but still prominent, takes up about a third of the entire mural’s width and half the height which is large enough to immediately draw the viewer’s eye but not so large that it takes up all the space on the wall. The remaining space is filled with vibrant “swirling” forms that spin around the diver’s trajectory, making the subject the primary focus but keeping her environment important as well. Pictorial space: There is a striking sense of depth and spatial energy through both color and overlapping forms. With this swirling effect, there is a clear sense of what is behind the “swirl” (or “portal”) and what is in front of it - It is almost like the viewer fixed inside of a hallow donut looking toward the center. The diver overlaps all the wavey bands around her which clearly put her in the foreground, like she is swimming around this hallow donut. Form: The swirly shapes and patterns evoke eyes or galaxies. The most prominent figurative form is the diving human. The human acts as a bridge between solid form and this flowing energy between this human and the universe around it. Line: There is a defined contour line that outlines the diver’s body from its surrounding environment. Around the diver, thick lines define the swirling, trippy wave-like shapes and they form this visual vortex that pulls the viewer’s eyes toward the diving figure. Color: Shades of purple primarily dominate the scene. But, there are two main color groups - on the left, darker purples and black dominate; On the right, colors of the rainbow dominate. The diver is jumping from the “portal” of this darker color group to the “portal” of this rainbow color group. The other color group that occupies the space are lighter shades of purple that is used to identify space as “neutral” – space that isn’t either dark or “light” (rainbow) which lies between these two portals. Light: The artist doesn’t attempt to imitate real light. The diver is in this dimension where every element is seeming equally illumined, even the waves of color deeper into the portal are just as illuminated as the colors “closer” to the viewer (not tucked in the background). Tone: The artists colored the “waves” deeper into the portal a darker shade/tone The use of these “darker” toned gives a sense that the diver is emerging from and diving into depth. Texture: The diver and flowing color bands appear visually smooth and fluid, defined by the soft gradients and clean edges in each step in the waves. Pattern: There are repeated shapes, again like eyes or galaxy swirls, that span across each band of color like a link where each link is the shape. Each link in the this “chain” in every band of color is mostly made of bright, contrasting/conflicting color for the bands in the left portal, and the colors of the chain patterns in the right portal blend more with the color of the bands they wrap around in. -
Biomorphic Spheres and Flowing Patterns
This mural covers part of a side of a three-story building and spans the full height of the building. It is vertically oriented, consisting of overlapping circular forms. Spherical shapes dominate the center and bottom of the mural, while curved lines move with curves and circles across the background. Several spirals also take up some of the foreground and background. The mural is on a flat surface, yet many elements create an illusion of depth. Overlapping forms and shadowing make the spheres in the center appear to float in front of or behind one another. The background goes to a vanishing point using a fading of colors and smaller lines. The mural contains many geometric and organic forms with spheres, ovals, wave-like curves, and cellular forms. It is primarily made up of curvilinear lines that swirl, interlace, and outline forms, portraying motion and form. Contour lines are used to identify where shapes overlap, while other lines create texture and rhythm. The color palette of this mural primarily consists of cooler colors like blues, purples, and greens. The mural is on somewhat of a color gradient where the colors get warmer closer to the top with yellows, oranges, and pinks. There is an illusion of light coming from the upper right of the mural by using lighter and warmer colors. There is also some shading on many of the spheres and shapes that give them a glow and suggest there is light coming from somewhere. The tones change from deep blues, greens, and purples to pale yellows, greens, and blues, contributing to the volumes and depths of the shapes. The mural gives the illusion of textures such as bumpy holes or rippling liquids. This mural contains elements of patterns as first seen through the rippling lines in the background of the mural that continue until they disappear. Many of the spheres contain patterns within them, like repetitive holes or smaller ovals. -
Ask Why
The main focal point of this mural is the phrase “ASK WHY.” Scale wise, it takes up a majority of the wall and is positioned directly in the center. Integrated throughout the mural and surrounding the text are elements of nature, Hmong culture, gender identity and various other icons. For example, there are larger more visible images of flowers, leaves, and plants as well as smaller details such as rain drops, flames, gender pictograms and Xs that border the phrase. Overall, the mural is not perfectly symmetrical, but it feels balanced both space and design wise. The only uses of color in the mural are in the words “ASK WHY” and the solid yellow shadowing that starts at the top of the letters and ends on the ground. The words themselves are white with a hint of blue (slim line of each letter) and then outlined in pink which are colors often associated with the transgender flag while the rest of the mural is black and white. The use of color forces the eye to gravitate towards the overall purpose of asking why. The rest of the mural being black and white in a way serves as an afterthought, nonetheless equally as important. The smaller and less apparent details cause the observer to further analyze and find hidden meanings and themes. The letters are designed using straight lines, making the message very straight forward and easily legible. The curvature in the images breaks up the straight lines to provide a nice visual and contrast to the linear lines. The foreground is yellow for a majority of the mural with the sides depicting nature (flowers and plants). The middle ground includes the large phrase “ASK WHY” to grab the viewers' attention. Two eyeballs are also included within the middle ground and the background is full of smaller images/icons such as flowers, raindrops/flames, and gender pictograms. The background creates the illusion of outer space with little symbols floating around. -
Cats (2024 Version)
The mural composition shows a balanced design due to symmetry in the central placement of the face in a very stylized manner. The elements are symmetrical on either side of the face, with the lotus flower at the top, giving an impression of balance and harmony. The decorative swirls and patterns along the edges lead the viewer's eye toward the center, which enhances the symmetric balance. The coloring is bold and vibrant, combining blues, purples, pinks, yellows, and reds. The bright contrast of colors fills the mural with energy and brings it alive. The gradient application of colors give depth and add an extra dimension to the face, which pops against the brick background. A range of lines is used for outlining, thick for major features, and thin for small details. The major features of the face are outlined by thick lines, while the design shows texture and intricacy by using thin lines. The strong use of curved lines gives the artwork fluidity and an organic feel, adding a dynamic feel. The texture of the mural is visually rich, created by detailed line work and color gradients. The intricate pattern and decorative elements create a feel that gives the impression of a tactile surface; one must stand close to appreciate the fine details. The smooth paint contrasts with the rough brick wall, adding another layer of visual interest. Black Daze has effectively used space to show depth and dimension. It is the face that occupies the foreground, while the decorative elements pass into the middle ground. A plain brick wall acts as the background, neutral enough to let the bright colors and details pop. Overlapping elements and variation in line thickness create a three-dimensional feel and give life to the face. -
Empowering Generations
The mural done by Claudia Valentino and Daniela Bianchini, titled Empowering Generations, is a sight to see. It is located on the West wall of the Precision Coatings building. This mural contains six small human figures, and one larger sized woman figure. The whole mural is of a large scale, so the viewer may need to step far back to take in the whole work. Along with the human figures there are also a few large flowers. The large woman figure is painted in various colors and holds her fist up high. The other smaller human figures are painted in a dark solid color, this illuminates their shape. These smaller human figures really stand out from the colorful background. Although, these smaller humans stand out, the focal point is the larger woman holding her fist up. Around her fist is a mosaic of glass/mirror and tiles, this draws the attention to the importance of her stance. A mosaic is a pattern made by setting small pieces of material onto a surface to create a design. In this case it is small pieces of mirror and colored tiles. All figures pop against the different shades of green and tan in the background. Along with the mosaic detail, this mural was created by using poly tab. Poly tab is a non-woven fabric that is lighter than canvas. This allows the artist to paint in their studio and then later apply the poly tab to the mural. The texture of the building is brick. When viewing this mural, three spaces are seen. The background is the geometrical green shapes and green and blue solid colors. The middle ground consists of the human figures that are one solid dark color. Finally, the foreground and focal point is the woman holding her fist high. -
Bird Enterprise Zone
Bird Enterprise Zone features two birds prominently displayed against a vibrant, patterned background. Both sides of the mural offer subtle differences in the birds' appearances and the background. The birds, painted in tan, brown, and white, contrast against the colorful backdrop, making them the main focal point. Their slightly varied hairstyles and designs distinguish the birds from one another. They are painted in a cartoon style, and they appear to be dancing or jumping. The background made of straight zigzag lines of varying thickness is visually striking but does not overwhelming the birds. Despite the 2D aesthetic the birds are clearly in the foreground creating depth in the mural.