A LETTER FROM ARTIST INGA CLOUGH FALTERMAN

Hi Everyone!

The new mural on the alley side of the St. Tammany Art Association building is a part of a Visit the Northshore project that is parish wide, funding murals in Northshore towns. Thank you, Visit the Northshore, for making good things happen.

I hope the mural makes everyone smile, as my objective is to paint something vibrant, uplifting, and simply enthusiastic. The image is straightforward, borrowing a chance scene from our natural world in which we live. The composition revolves around a monarch butterfly hanging on a pickerel weed flower over the water. The viewer can see above the water and also below the water, where spotted gar swim among the stems of emergent plants. The colors are robust and Art Alley will have a pretty happy backdrop for future events.

The mural has proven to be a paradigm of what the project has aimed to achieve: completion of the project is possible through multiple entities in neighboring communities of St. Tammany. Roberta Carrow-Jackson of Visit the Northshore is a pleasure to work with, and I am happy for the opportunity to paint.

STAA and myself are incredibly grateful to all those that have donated their time and resources to this endeavor. Firstly, Todd Hillberry with Hydro-Line Exterior for providing the services to clean the wall prior to our project. Jim Montour of PPG paints for his generosity in supplies for wall prep and paint. I rent my lift from A-Rental Depot of Slidell, who is incredibly accommodating in schedule needs and price. A big thank you to Maggy Case-Eymard, the glue of the Art Association, for all of her effort in making progress happen. I am incredibly grateful to Maggy, Janie, and Adair for their help in priming the wall.

The Art House received some special attention and building improvement in order to paint the mural. If you come by and the bottom of the mural seems unfinished, not to worry, as it is exactly that. Wall repair has to cure before I paint, so I’ll be back in January to paint the new stucco work.

People on the street are generally pleased with the progress thus far. I am happy to see that.

Regarding the Mural’s Completion

Hi Everyone!

I am happy to relay that the alley mural funded by Visit the Northshore is completed. It is a happy thing. You will notice the Visit the Northshore logo near the low center of the mural, designating it as one wall of a family of five murals that are spread across the parish. A QR code will soon accompany the logo, and visitors can use this to access the Visit the Northshore’s website for project information and events. Again, a very genuine thank you to Visit the Northshore, Mr. Jim Montour of PPG Paints, and the St. Tammany Art Association. A shout out to the good men of the Smith’s Sons Hardware store for checking in on me daily and to Mr. Roy, from across the street, who walked over to tell me about swimming with garfish on the Tchefuncte when he was a child. I am warmed by all the smiles and high fives.

Have great days!

Inga Clough Falterman