Art Infusion

×

Expand

Full Spectrum Photography

David Mark Zimmerman (aka Bigshot Robot) at the Dog Bone Mural that he painted as part of Art Infusion Mural Week 2020.

press release: The Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Art Infusion Mural Committee are pleased to announce that David Mark Zimmerman, aka Bigshot Robot, will return as a featured muralist for Art Infusion Mural Week, September 4 – 12, 2021, bringing the total number of murals to be created during the 2021 event to five.

David was a muralist for the 2020 Art Infusion event. He painted the much beloved and whimsical Dog Bone Mural that wraps around two sides of the building in the alley behind 215 West Milwaukee Street in downtown Janesville. For his return visit, David will create another piece of art on the north wall of the Harris Ace Hardware at 200 S River St in downtown Janesville. The design for his mural has not been finalized yet.

“We are delighted to invite David back as the featured muralist for 2021,” said Christine Rebout, executive director of the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “His vibrant and humorous art has been such a wonderful addition to Janesville, and we look forward to the addition of another one of his lighthearted designs.”

Additionally, the call for artists to embellish the other four mural locations, which closed on June 13, drew a great response with grand total of 67 applicants and many artists submitting applications for more than one wall.

· 28 from Wisconsin

· 5 from Janesville

· 7 from Milwaukee

· 4 from Chicago

· Applicants representing 16 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin

· Applicants representing two countries outside of the U.S.: Chile and Uganda (Because the call for artists asked for applicants from the U.S. those that applied from outside of the country could not be considered.)

From those 67 submissions the Art Infusion Mural Committee Jury has narrowed the potential artists to ten finalists from around the U.S. including Kenosha, Milwaukee, New Richmond and Whitefish Bay, WI; Chicago and Geneva, IL; Chattanooga, TN; Rochester, NY; Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA.

“We were very happy with the diversity of applications for the art call,” said Stacey Williams-Ng of Wallpapered City, the organization assisting with the project. “We not only had a wide selection of ideas and portfolios, but we received submissions from all over the continental US. The jurors were really spoiled for choice.” The committee hopes to have the field narrowed to the final four artists by mid-July.

“The jurors have had their work cut out for them,” said Rebout. “We thank them for their investment of time, hard work and commitment.” The jury of nine is composed of community members.

About David Mark Zimmerman aka Bigshot Robot

Bigshot Robot is an artist & designer based in Milwaukee. His work explores curiosity, vibrancy, humor and movement. In his illustrations, paintings, and collaborations, there is always a sense of imagination at play with colorful palettes full of energy. Growing up he spent his time snowboarding, watching Rocko’s Modern Life, and making music. He studied printmaking and design at the University of Wisconsin: Milwaukee. You can see some of his work around Milwaukee at places like Black Cat Alley, Bayshore, Commonplace / Tasha Rae, and Classic Slice.

About Art Infusion

Following the success of the Black Hawk wall mural created in 2019 by spray paint artist Jeff Henriquez and commissioned by Nigella Ryan, a committee was formed to develop a painted wall mural component for the 2020 event. Five large-scale painted wall murals were added, including Diversity and Women’s History Mural by Jeff Henriquez, Dog Bone Mural by David Mark Zimmerman (aka Bigshot Robot), Origami Birds by Stephanie Krellwitz, Two Horses Mural by Jessie Willyerd working with Tim Cahill, and the Waves of Giving mural by Jaime Brown, working with Karim Jabbari. There were also 21 sidewalk chalk murals created.

Since its inception in 2011, the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Art Infusion event has continued to evolve and bring positive attention to the community, its attractions and especially the downtown area. The event will once again have a featured professional artist creating a sidewalk chalk art mural, as well as a sidewalk chalk art competition with cash grand prize (and other prizes), opportunities for attendees to draw for fun, and free sidewalk chalk art instruction for Janesville students. The sidewalk chalk competition portion of the event will be held September 10 - 12, 2021. COVID-19 safe social distancing in accordance with state and federal guidelines will be followed.

About the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Our expert staff is here to help you plan your next visit, group tour, meeting or conference event in Janesville, Wisconsin’s Great Outside. The Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private non-profit Destination Marketing Organization, whose mission is to lead, support and promote tourism in the area by promoting Janesville as a prime destination for meetings and conventions, motorcoach, sports events and leisure travelers, thereby creating a positive economic impact on the community and enhancing the quality of life. The JACVB is funded by approximately 60% of the room tax collected by the City of Janesville with the remainder going into the city’s general fund. To learn more visit janesvillecvb.com.