Press Feature in Tampa Bay Magazine, 2022.
"Age of The Cool People"
60-Foot Building Mural
Age of The Cool People is the 2022 commissioned surrealist mural by Storm Ritter on the east side of the Blur Nightclub building in Downtown Dunedin, Florida. The work is available to visit at 325 Main Street, including the signature mural and fine art featuring The Cool People inside the establishment.
ABOUT
A surrealist experience for the soul, the mural showcases The Earth, The Sun, The Star and The Moon. With tarot and astrological imagery, The Cool People perform a tale of creative fulfillment. Hidden within the large scale composition are multitudes of small details and whimisal stories. It's intended for the viewer to discover something new, bringing visitors back again and again. Since the creation in 2022, the mural is a visitor destination for local mural tours.
Process Video, 2022.
PROCESS VIDEO
On a mechanical lift, Storm moved around the 60-foot wall with an organized inventory of paint canvas and brushes inside the booth. In twenty-one days, the mural was painted, from 8am to night. The artist archived the process in an online diary with photos and design content. Using only her refernece painting as a template, the mural was painted freehand using a memorized template.
ORIGINAL DESIGN
The original design was painted on three wood panels, with the last acting as the final design. The plaque sat on an easel at the bottom of the building for consistent reference. Without stencils or projections, Storm mimicked the original design with opportunity to evolve in each section. Once the anchor elements were placed, the worlds were able to expand with the creativity of the moment. The wood panel painting aligns with the complete mural. After the completion, two of the original wood paintings were sold to collectors and one gifted to the owners of the building.
Process Photos, 2022.
PHOTO ARCHIVE
Magical elements of Age Of The Cool People are found in the process and small moments. Photographer Lisa Sampietro filmed and shot process shots of the artist during the weeks in production.
At the completion of the mural, the artist and photographer shot detail images. Hundreds of The Cool People are embedded within the composition. Storm's attention to detail and vintage shading techniques are reminiscent of an old world storybook, emphasized with an added gold trim around the building. In the archive photos below, view the mural in depth with close-up and focused images.
