"Fertile Ground" mural on Energy Systems building

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:23 pm

"Fertile Ground" mural on Energy Systems building

The Energy System's building on 13th and Webster (across the street from the Old Mattress Factory) is being covered by a huge mural. My first thought was that it was being done for the Olympic swim trials as this side of the building faces the Qwest, however, what is beginning to emerge does not look like it has anything to do with the swim trials

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:24 pm

I wondered about that. Last time I saw it, it was just dark blue!

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:21 pm

It's about time... I called for this when Slow Down was still u/c.

I think some Times Square style digital billboards would be even better.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:36 pm

I noticed the big blue wall when I got back from France, but couldn't remember if it was like that before or not. Hmmm. I wonder what the mural will be. I also hope that building is torn down soon for an appropriate new development!!!

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:45 pm

Not gonna happen... it's the heating and cooling for the Qwest Center (and likely more on the north side of downtown).

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:01 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote: I also hope that building is torn down soon for an appropriate new development!!!

As stargazer said, its not going to come down b/c of ESC, but in reality, they really only use about half of that building (the east side, if memory serves correctly, where they're doing the mural). The rest is a warehouse (currently for lease). It would be nice to see that space used, even if it is purely as a warehouse / light industrial application. Anderson Excavating must have worked out a deal with the owner to use the parking lot to stage equipment there, as its where they had their spare crane pieces and extra crane for the UP demo...

If there's gonna be a big ugly building sitting in the middle of some prime real estate, it might as well be used, as its not going away any time soon.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:13 pm

Stargazer wrote:Not gonna happen... it's the heating and cooling for the Qwest Center (and likely more on the north side of downtown).

Some of us had debated if that was the case or not. That really sucks because A, the thing is an eyesore IMO, and B, it is PRIME land now with the ballpark and NDT development. It's gonna stick out like a turd in a punchbowl regardless of what they paint on it.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:22 pm

The reason I think that its not used for heating is because that NO steam comes out of it anymore.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:47 pm

Apparently they are panting people from Nebraska. Expected to be done next year sometime. The guy standing near by said that kewit gave them a grant for this:

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:42 am

still in use.... Here's a map from Energy System's website (http://www.esc-omaha.com)

EDIT: I had problems with the image and resizing, here is where it can be found:

http://www.esc-omaha.com/esc-ss-sm.html

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:27 pm

Is it just me or does it seem like there might not be as much potential in North Downtown as hoped. With Lots B and D not ever being developed, the UP Child Care Center, and now this, it seems like there isn't as much room for growth as hoped. This would have been a great piece of property to tear down and develop. So much for that...

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:28 pm

I wish this would be redeveloped, however there is plenty of room north and west of the new ballpark.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:45 pm

Muralist creating big public picture of Omaha

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10370655

DANE STICKNEY WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Meg Saligman has conflicting feelings about a big blue factory wall that stretches longer than a football field.

The Philadelphia artist is creating a 22,000-square-foot mural depicting Omaha's history, present and future on the massive east wall of the Energy Systems Inc. building near 13th and Cass Streets. The Peter Kiewit Foundation is funding the project, which should be finished next spring.

Scaffolding frames Saligman's brick canvas, roughly 70 feet tall by 328 feet long. She has prepared the surface and has begun painting the rough images of a few figures. But she has nearly a year's worth of work yet to do.

She's both excited by the opportunity and stressed out by its size.

"It's a fun project," she said. "But it's big. Really big."

The mural, "Fertile Ground," is the brainchild of the Peter Kiewit Foundation. With help from the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the foundation began searching for a location and artist in 2006. It identified the Energy Systems building — in north downtown near the Qwest Center Omaha and the proposed site of a new baseball stadium — as an ideal spot.

The energy company agreed and turned over access to its exterior and a loading bay that doubles as Saligman's studio.

The Peter Kiewit Foundation has been involved in a number of public art initiatives, including the J. Doe project and the installation of sculptures on the Qwest Center grounds. While the foundation wouldn't reveal the cost or the exact design of the mural, it's literally its biggest project to date, said Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein, executive director of the foundation.

DANE STICKNEY WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Saligman and four other artists plan to paint until late fall. She estimates that the mural will be about 70 percent finished by then. The team will return in the early spring and, weather permitting, finish by next June.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:41 am

This is a huge 'get' for the city.

Meg Saligman is the type of muralist I've only dreamed would paint something in Omaha. She combines 'realism' with 'surrealism' in her work. This painting will prove to be an icon for the city, and certainly for the neighborhood---you can bet on it. This is exciting stuff!

mchine73 · Post by **mchine73** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:07 am

Wow! I'm impressed, should definitely be a great addition to the area.

http://ameganfindsartinphilly.files.wor ... er-023.jpg

http://www.communityarts.net/readingroo ... ec-map.jpg

Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 5:51 pm

Photo Update 8/7/2008

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 8:06 pm

I can see it from Gallup. Truly amazing work.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:09 am

Boo! Tear it down!

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:04 am

Very impressive. It certainly helps that ugly wall of a building.

SarahEatsOmaha · Post by **SarahEatsOmaha** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:19 am

Thanks for the visual update. I like it.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:25 pm

Another viewpoint of the mural:

And another:

Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:29 pm

Great Shots Mark!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 9:45 pm

Thanks - they only put into proportion that close-up you got last week.
Or at least see where this will be in the final analysis of North DTO.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:35 pm

Brad wrote:
DANE STICKNEY WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:Saligman and four other artists plan to paint until late fall. She estimates that the mural will be about 70 percent finished by then. The team will return in the early spring and, weather permitting, finish by next June.

Its looking like they might even be more than 70% done already.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:24 pm

"Fertile Ground" Mural to be dedicated Wednesday, lighting about 9:30pm.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:32 pm

I didn't realize it would be lighted. That's pretty neat.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:13 am

Dont Forget the lighting is Today - Wed

Here is a pic from tuesday:

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:30 pm

That looks great. I can't see how it looks at night.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:31 am

Anyone know what’s going on at this building this morning? There was a crane hauling something up onto the roof and there’s people on the roof there’s people off to the side of the roof and there’s what appear to be some kind of TV cameras on the ground. I don’t know if they were from a TV station or Kiewit.

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