Oshkosh, WI
Greetings from Oshkosh, WI! This is our first time creating an official postcard mural in the state, and we couldn't be more thrilled to collaborate with the community of Oshkosh on our inaugural Wisconsin postcard mural.
The idea for this mural was born during our going away party in New York City way back in 2015. Our friends Pete (Donin) & Shelly (Zander) had jokingly suggested doing a mural in Shelly’s home town in Oshkosh. When Pete and Shelly returned to Oshkosh in 2017 to open Easy Street Tattoo, our discussions about making this project a reality became more serious. In 2019, we initiated conversations with the city, but our plans were briefly postponed due to the pandemic.
In 2021, we hit the road over the summer and made a stop in Oshkosh to scout some potential walls. We had the chance to catch up with Pete & Shelly and explore their city a bit more. Fast forward to 2022, our path crossed with Jessica Meidl from the Downtown Oshkosh BID, whose dedication played a pivotal role in championing this project.. After overcoming various obstacles and gaining support from Discover Oshkosh, we finally received the approval we needed. However, shortly after, we had to take a break from traveling to embark on the incredible journey of becoming new parents! As you can see, it was a lengthy process to finally bring this project to fruition.
The selected final location for the mural was on the south side wall of The Roxy Supper Club. We couldn’t of asked for a better location on the 500 block of Main St. downtown.
One of the most common questions we get is: "How do we come up with the imagery ideas inside the letters?" As we are not always locals, we rely on the community's input to determine what best represents their city. Oshkosh was no exception, and we actively collaborated with community stakeholders over the course of a year to narrow down the selection of imagery. Budget and time constraints also factor into the equation of what’s feasible. Our ultimate goal is to create a mural that stands the test of time, incorporating elements of landmarks, culture, history, nature, and collaborating with local artists. Interestingly, in smaller cities, we are often presented with longer and more detailed lists. This phenomenon may be attributed to the fact that the population in these cities tends to have deep roots with multiple generations and an unwavering passion for their hometowns. Through our collective efforts, we have carefully distilled the list of elements that best represent Oshkosh to the following:
Oshkosh Landmarks
The Waters Oshkosh venue was designed by famous local architect William Waters. Its central location on the waterfront, diverse programming, and live performances attract artists, performers, and visitors from the region, contributing to the economic vitality of the downtown area. The Waters has become an integral part of the city's identity by enriching the cultural fabric of Oshkosh.
The Public Library Lions (named Sawyer & Harris) are iconic symbols of Oshkosh's cultural heritage, representing the city's commitment to education, knowledge, and strength. The beloved landmarks have been guarding the Oshkosh Public Library since 1912. They were created by Italian artist Gaetano Trentanove who was also the creator of the Chief Oshkosh statue in Menominee Park. We confirmed that the lion that we painted in the mural is the one named Harris!
In the background of the mural, we painted the various bridges spanning the Fox River, with the iconic CN Railroad Draw Bridge being highlighted. The scenic view extends to Lake Butte des Morts in the distance. There was a moment of uncertainty when we almost had to omit the draw bridge from the mural due to some elevation miscalculations. However, recognizing its significance, we made every effort to make sure to reintegrate it into the final design.
Oshkosh Culture & NAture
Undoubtedly, the Lake Culture stood out as one of the most highly recommended aspects, inspiring us to feature it across multiple letters (OSH) within the mural. Lake Winnebago is the largest inland body of water in the state, covering more than 130,000 acres, and has been a vital part of the Oshkosh community for generations. Native American tribes, such as the Menominee and the Fox, were the first to settle along the shores of Lake Winnebago, and their influence can still be seen in the area's art, music, and folklore. The lake has played an essential role in the development of the region's economy, serving as a hub for trade, transportation, and recreation. Today, Lake Winnebago remains a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other water-based activities. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fit a scene dedicated to ice fishing in our artwork but there’s plenty of other walls in town for new murals ;) !
Oshkosh History
Oshkosh has a rich history of breweries, dating back to the mid-19th century. The city's abundance of natural resources, including water from Lake Winnebago and nearby barley fields, made it an ideal location for the brewing industry. The first brewery in Oshkosh, known as the Oshkosh Brewing Company, was established in 1846 and quickly became one of the largest and most successful breweries in the region. Over the years, the city became home to several other notable breweries including Pabst and the Peoples Brewing Company which was the first black owned brewery. However, the Prohibition era had a significant impact on the brewing industry, causing many breweries to close. The recent growth of craft breweries continues to keep the tradition alive.
A majority of people outside of Wisconsin are more familiar with the brand Osh Kosh B'gosh than the city of Oshkosh. However, the popular clothing brand known for its denim overalls actually has ties to Oshkosh's lumber history. The company was founded in Oshkosh in 1895 as the "Oshkosh Overall Company" and originally produced workwear for laborers in the lumber and farming industries. Oshkosh was even nicknamed the sawdust capital of the world at one point. The company's durable and practical overalls were especially popular among lumberjacks who needed clothing that could withstand the rigors of their work. As the lumber industry declined, Osh Kosh B'gosh shifted its focus to the children's clothing it’s known for today. Despite the company's evolution, its roots in Oshkosh's lumber industry remain an essential part of its heritage and history. As a bonus, we painted the iconic Osh Kosh B’Gosh red handkerchief in the back pocket of the worker. You can check out life imitating art in Victor’s back pocket as well.
Local Artist Collaborations
We wanted to pay tribute to the history and nature going way back to the native Menominee tribe so we collaborated with regional indigenous artist Cainen Shooter for the imagery inside the second “S.” You can find his artist statement below:
“The Woodlands of upper North America are home to countless images of beauty; from it’s lakes, to its flora and fauna, the Woodlands encapsulate beauty and grace not found elsewhere. The traditional indigenous inhabitants of the Woodlands understood and appreciated this more so than its current post colonial inhabitants. Through this appreciation, the various tribes developed a distinct iconography and art system. This system, known for its solid background and interconnecting flowers, berries, and food; can be found on their traditional clothing, tools, as well as on and inside of the homes.
The art I contributed follows this unique system laid out from my ancestors, and through this I tell a story of the Menominee peoples. At the very bottom, lies a water lily, showing beauty within deep and dark times. Continuing upward, are cranberries and wild rice, the latter being the namesake of the Menominee (People of the Wild Rice). Continuing, are sacred medicinal plants, Cedar, Sage, and Tobacco, known for healing, cleansing, and offerings. Next, various berry are depicted and at the very crest, a sturgeon. Lastly, a wild rose blossoms at the end of the journey. The piece can be summarized as a ladder, with the necessities of life at the bottom (wild rice), then through traditional practices (medicinal plants) we flourish (berries and sturgeon). - Cainen Shooter”
Pete and Shelly helped a ton with the preparation work, going above and beyond to assist us and make endless local connections. They also introduced us to local photographer Belle McClain, who beautifully documented the mural's progress throughout the week. Shout-out to everyone in the community who lent a hand and offered their support throughout the week.
Painting the OShkosh Mural
We didn’t have the RV on this trip so we had to ship a lot of supplies over prior to our arrival. Special thanks to Montana Cans, Sherwin Williams & the Oshkosh Lowe’s for their generous support & donations of paint and various mural supplies for this community project.
Pete & David helped get the initial sketch on the wall from pounce patterns we provided. This was the first time having the wall prepped before Victor’s arrival and the process couldn’t have gone smoother! This new approach allowed us to arrive fresh with more energy to focus on the imagery inside the lettering. The Hoopman Foundation hooked us up with a storage unit and convenient access to water and bathrooms near the mural, which made everything much more convenient.
Arriving on a Friday, we encountered a packed parking lot due to the weekly fish fry at the supper club—a beloved local tradition in Oshkosh. To ensure that the mural would remain visible for photo opportunities every day of the week, especially during peak downtown activity, we designed it in a way that parked cars wouldn't obstruct it.
Surprisingly, the weather in Oshkosh was hotter than in Los Angeles throughout the entire week. Fortunately, after long days of painting on a south-facing wall, our accommodations were excellent. We want to extend our gratitude to The Doe House for offering their historic and beautiful home for us to stay in. Built in 1869 and designed by William Waters, this renovated historic home now serves as a boutique lodging and event venue. The current owner, Rebecca Brown, is actually a descendant of the original owner who built the house. Rebecca and her husband, Paul Williams, are ardent supporters of the arts and have previously donated the house for other artist-in-residence programs. We could see their heated bathroom floors and steam showers being quite amazing for the cold winters!
David stayed to help with the lumber history scene in the K and the library lion in the second H. As always, he did an incredible job using a combination of spray paint and brushwork. Some of the best ideas for imagery come from locals making suggestions during the painting process. This time was no exception as we added in a tiny lake fly and the silhouette of a buck into the mural. Unfortunately, we had to abandon the idea of incorporating the much-requested squeaky cheese curds into the mural since they would have just looked like shapeless blobs.
In total, the completion of this mural took approximately a week. We buffered for some rain days, but the weather was exceptionally beautiful and allowed for us to finish ahead of schedule. We saved some final touch-ups for the Oshkosh Into The Night event, providing an opportunity for people to watch some live painting and engage with Victor. It was truly an honor when we received a surprise visit from Cainen Shooter and his family at the last minute! We’re so happy that the community embraced the artwork and hope that this will open up doors for more murals in Oshkosh long after we are gone.
Shelly Zander, David Wang, Victor Ving & Peter Donin
Locals checking out the completed mural
Cainen Shooter’s family
Victor Ving & Cainen Shooter
Amy Albright & Jessica Meidl
Thank you to Belle McClain for the amazing photos
“It has been amazing and so fun seeing the community’s reaction to the mural. It is such a wonderful celebration of Oshkosh’s past, present and future that I am so proud to have been a part of. Victor and his team did an amazing job taking our ideas and bringing them to life in such a fun way and incorporated ideas and input from people passing by making this project a true reflection of Oshkosh and the community.”
“We are so thrilled with the Greetings Tour mural. We believe that public art is an important for place making and for quality of life, as well as tourism. We know that if we build a place where people want to live, people will also want to visit. We are extremely proud to be part of this project.”
Main Sponsors:
Downtown Oshkosh BID | Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau | The Hoopman Foundation | The Roxy Supper Club
Additional support by:
Fletch’s Local Tap House | The Doe House | Davis Painting | Montana Cans | Oshkosh Library Foundation | Sherwin Williams | Lowe’s
In Honor of Dennis Elmer
Letter Guide:
O — Lake Winnebago / The Waters & Kayaker
S — Lake Winnebago / Fishing
H — Lake Winnebago / Sailboat
K — Lumber Industry & Oshkosh B'Gosh *Hidden Lake Fly
O — Historic Breweries / Peoples Beer & Oshkosh Brewing Co.
S — Local Menominee artist collaboration (Cainen Shooter)
H — Public Library Lions (Harris)
Background - Fox River aerial view & EAA planes in sky
Press:
NBC 26 News - New murals hope to capture the best of Oshkosh (video)
The Advance-Titan - New mural to highlight Oshkosh
Year: 2023
Mural Size: 15'H x 25'W
Location: 563 N Main St. Oshkosh, WI 54901