The fantastic weather this past Sunday had me out on a walk in the neighborhood. Discovered an artist and his helper creating a mural on Federal Ave E at the Lowell Elementary School (from the little park alongside the play yard from 11th Ave E to Federal Ave E and down Federal to Mercer). Nice addition to the area IMHO. The artist gave me permission to take his photo and to blog it. I did not catch his name, but he said he was already in the press due to another project in Ballard. Anyone know who he is?
…is in the 3rd pix, the one with the beard, (nice fellow to talk with). You have to wait a little bit (depending on your connections speed) for the link at the top of the main pix to load up so you can scroll through the other pix. I noticed this morning that at both the south and north end of the mural it now says “henry” so perhaps that his name?
Yes – it’s Ryan Henry Ward aka Henry – he’s been painting up a storm in Ballard –
Another Henry mural in Ballard
http://www.myballard.com/2008/08/21/yet-another-henry-mural/
Artist continues mural painting spree
http://www.myballard.com/2008/08/19/artist-continues-mural-p
Murals popping up around Ballard, Fremont
http://www.myballard.com/2008/08/12/murals-popping-up-around
He works cheap – from My Ballard: He said he would whip up a mural for just about any business that asked for one. And in many cases, he’s doing it for free. (Although he said the Triangle paid him in beer.)
So if you’ve got a spot for a mural, drop him a note: [email protected] and see if you can work something out.
I think what he is doing is just great! I love the cheerful nature and colors of his work.
I live down the street from Lowell and love the cheerful mural -thanks Henry!
I live right around the corner from the Ballard 8th Street mural and in spite of what seems to be favorable reviews I hate this monstrosity. First I think that this and all the other Henry murals I have seen around the area are artistically not very good and not very interesting. Second, in the case of the 8th Street mural it in no way shape or form works with the aesthetic of the neighborhood or the street it is on. It stands out like a sore thumb.
His big signatures are so horrible. Every time I walk by the mural at Lowell I want to destroy it…The big HENRY ruins it…One day I will get drunk enough to go out and paint it out…
that would be so sad jesica. did you see the wall before he painted it? it had tons of graffiti and looked horrible. If his work can change the entire look of a block in the course of a weekend he deserves to write his name big. Art changes life and culture. he has painted 28 murals in the city of seattle. He is doing his part on impacting the world in a positve way, just let it be and enjoy it for what it is.