ArtPrize Mural Honors Michigan’s Rock Heritage [Photo]
A West Michigan artist has honored Michigan's lengthy Rock'N Roll tradition with six foot by six foot mural on the west side.
Kimber Thompson from Marshall near Battle Creek created the homage to Michigan rockers, which is located on the side of the Swift Printing Building at 404 W. Bridge St. SW.
The black and white mural is painted with acrylic paint on plastic billboard vinyl. The mural is accompanied by a rather well researched pamphlet which features highlights and little known facts of each artist's career. (For instance, did you know Alice Cooper's signature look was inspired by the film noir classic 'Whatever Happened To Baby Jane'?)
Featured on the mural in addition to Michigan icons like Kid Rock, Bob Seger and Eminem are Motown greats Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder, as well as proto punk rockers Iggy and the Stooges and the MC5, and of course, GR's own Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Verve Pipe.
The mural, like most Michigan-inspired art, panders to our famous mitten shape, but the art work of the musicians is well rendered and appears to be photograhic from a distance, until you walk up to it and can see the brush strokes.
Here's a list of the artists depicted on the MIchigan ROCKS! mural:
Ted Nugent
Kid Rock
Bob Seger
Uncle Kracker
Rare Earth (a nice pick up, because this seminal '70s jam band has long been forgotten)
Alice Cooper
The Knack
Aaliyah
The Eagles
The White Stripes
Stevie Wonder
Grand Funk Railroad
? and the Mysterions
Insane Clown Posse
The Stooges (fun fact: Iggy was born in Muskegon)
Mitch Ryder
Diana Ross
The Verve Pipe
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Smokey Robinson
Eminem
Aretha Franklin
The Temptations
Madonna
Sponge