#TheNourishMural Meaning and How to Find It
October 17, 2020 | Henderson, KY
If you are just now hearing about Henderson’s latest downtown mural addition, let me take a moment to introduce you to my work. My name is Maddy Fritz, I am an artist and designer (and now muralist), born and raised in Henderson. I spent years envisioning when I would be able to leave my mark on my hometown. Crazily enough, it took a worldwide pandemic and spending too many hours indoors to finally get the opportunity to land my first solo mural project, go figure!
There has been some interest generated around my latest project, titled “Nourish”. I often get asked questions like, “What does it mean?” and “Where can I find it?” So I took a moment to jot down a few reflections and other frequently asked questions to share with everyone.
What does the mural design and title mean?
I created the mural design before I came up with the title “Nourish.” I wanted to create something that meant a lot to me, and could also be open-ended and interpreted in different ways. What sparked the design concept began with a little self-discovery, that I tend to treat myself more kindly when I take the time to prioritize my happiness. I gave my inner happiness an identity and started dedicating time to taking care of it, similar to how I nourish other relationships in my life.
So from one perspective, I see the two hands as two sides of myself, being cooperative and forgiving. From an objective viewpoint, the two hands can represent any two sides or beings coming together, breaking galactic barriers by getting back to natural roots. My overall goal was to spread positivity amid the ongoing struggles of social distancing and the Covid-19 crisis.
I settled on the name, “Nourish,” because of the collaboration with Henderson Juice Co. I liked the idea of being able to nourish your body by stopping inside to grab a healthy smoothie, and then stepping outside to nourish your mind and spirit at the mural site.
Where is the mural located?
If you know where Henderson Juice Co. is located on S. Main Street (if you don’t I highly recommend taking the time to visit and grab a smoothie), the mural is located directly behind it. The mural itself is visible from Water Street near the tennis courts, by the Henderson Depot. Turn off of Water Street by the Women’s Honor Court, and you can’t miss it. If you’re visiting from out of town, here are the directions to the juicery. (I’m working on getting my mural added to Google Maps, stay tuned!) Please be respectful of the area surrounding the mural, as there are several downtown residents nearby that call this area home.
How tall is the mural?
At the highest point, the design is about 10 feet tall. Lucky for me, my wingspan was long enough to reach the top using a 6-foot ladders. I read a comment from a Facebook user that was worried she was too short to stand in front of the butterfly wings (for the wingspan photo effect). I tested a couple of my short friends and family members that are just over 5-feet tall and their photos turned out great. But I intentionally included a pair of wings low to the ground for the small children, dogs, or for anyone who feels comfortable on the ground.
If you feel inclined, share your photos on social media using #TheNourishMural hashtag, or tag me @WingspanArtist on Facebook or Instagram. Your photos make me smile and I would love to repost to spread the joy.
How long did it take you to complete the mural?
I started my mural fundraiser on August 7, 2020 and the official end date of the project was October 10. This was a really cool collaboration with the business owner at Henderson Juice Co. and the next door building owner. Thankfully with all of the generous donations and volunteers, I had plenty of support, and I was able to knock this bad boy out quicker than I expected! There is a really great article written by Chuck Stinnett that was published in The Gleaner newspaper that dives into the backstory. It’s a great read, check it out!
What is your next project?
I am excited to report that I have a few local mural leads to follow up on, but nothing set in stone yet. I am anticipating assisting on a two-story mural next spring with my friend and local artist, Grace Henderson. But I am very much also anticipating and looking forward to the prospect of completing another public mural in 2021. In the meantime, I am busy completing a few tattoo designs for friends, indoor mural painting, and a couple large-scale painting requests. I plan to have a complete scope of my services and rates listed online very soon if you are interested in working with me to create your custom design. Feel free to contact me to talk about your design vision.
I didn’t get a chance to donate to your mural project, can I still donate?
Of course! I reached my fundraiser goal for this mural project within 24 hours, and many people have asked if they can still donate, and how they can donate. I have a donation form open here on my website, or you can find me on the Venmo app at @mad-den-fritz. If you would like to send a cash or check donation, please contact me so I can best accommodate your giving preferences. Or you can always support me by purchasing stickers from my online store. There may be an opportunity to donate via Facebook Fundraisers for future projects, so please follow my Facebook page for project updates.
And last but not least…
What kind of dog do you have?
My favorite questions to answer are about my trusty sidekick, Lilah. She was my “Project Manager” and everyday companion during this gig, and she made a ton of friends. Most of our visitors wanted to know what kind of dog she was: she is half Golden Retriever, half Australian Shepherd and 100% friendly. She misses all of her new friends and all of the daily treats and belly rubs that she received. Thank you to all the downtown business folks that greeted us warmly and were receptive of us being in your parking lot everyday!