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Cultural Arts Commission backs Van Gogh, GPW mural for 1001 New Hampshire
Summary
On March 12 the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission unanimously approved a recommendation that the city commission permit a collaborative mural by Van Gogh and GPW and Associates on an exterior wall at 1001 New Hampshire; the work will use aluminum composite panels and involve Van Gogh's youth apprentices.
The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission on March 12 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Commission approve a collaborative mural by Van Gogh and GPW and Associates to be installed on an exterior wall at 1001 New Hampshire.
The recommendation matters because the project uses removable aluminum composite panels rather than paint on masonry, involves Van Gogh's arts training program for young adult apprentice artists and is scheduled for a late-April or early-May installation with a public unveiling potentially tied to the Art2Go block party weekend.
Rick Wright, art director at Van Gogh, described the project and its materials. “Yeah, correct. The, the building owner … was not sure about a painted mural, was interested in something that could be removed at some point … these would be on aluminum composite panels,” Wright said, adding that the panels would be adhered to the wall with metal fasteners. He said Van Gogh has used the same substrate on other local murals and that the organization already has the panels in hand.
Commissioners asked about the timeline and public visibility. Wright said Van Gogh’s apprentice program — “young adult artists ages 18 to 24” who train with Van Gogh — will do the work over roughly a 16-week period; he said the group started design work in fall 2024, submitted a final image in January, and expects an install in late April or early May.
Chair Naomi Smith completed the roll call approving the Commission’s recommendation and described the next step: placing the item on the City Commission’s consent agenda. “Thanks. Thanks, Rick. And just so you know, the next step for me is to get this on a, city commission, consent agenda,” Smith said, noting that the mural is not technically final until the City Commission approves it.
Commissioners praised the design and the removable-panel approach. Support letters from nearby businesses, including a written note from Steve Moselli, were described during the discussion. Commissioners said they hoped an unveiling could coincide with Art2Go and bring more visibility to the art center half a block away.
If the City Commission approves the consent-agenda item, the project team plans a public unveiling; until then, the Cultural Arts Commission's action is a recommendation.
Votes at a glance: the Commission passed a motion to forward a recommendation that the City Commission approve the installation of a collaborative mural by Van Gogh and GPW and Associates at 1001 New Hampshire. The motion passed unanimously.
