Artist Interview: The Story Behind Wyoming Wildlife Tug of War
Aesthetics matter. That’s why a prominent place for public art is one of the hallmarks of dynamic districts where people love to spend time. At Brick & Bond, we’ve prioritized investments in artwork in the Old Yellowstone District, partnering with artists to enhance the visual landscape as one element of an overall strategy to fuel the area’s life and growth.
One such project was the mural Wyoming Wildlife Tug of War. We caught up with the artist, Damien Eckhardt-Jacobi, to hear more about his inspiration and what it was like to create his first mural.
What was the inspiration behind this piece? How do you approach gathering ideas for a project like this?
The inspiration for this piece was honestly Brick & Bond’s initial 3 goals: a fun, interactive, Wyoming-themed mural. Wyoming’s wildlife seemed like the place to start, and it paired well with my usual instincts - I tend to walk the line between whimsical and mature, trusting kids can take a little seriousness, and adults can still be a little silly.
Restrictions also help creativity; at least I think so. The brick wall helped dictate the colors used and the amount of detail, etc.
Tell us about the techniques you used to create the artwork. Was there anything unusual about how you made it?
I approached this in an unusual way. I created initial design sketches, turned those into vector (computer) art, projected them onto sheets of plywood, and then cut templates. Those templates allowed exact silhouettes of each animal shape to be applied to the exterior brick wall.
Templates aren’t an original idea; I mean, Banksy uses them. But it was a saving grace: The final product looked exactly like the approved, tablet-sized concept image, and I didn’t have to scramble on site. It became less ‘painting’, more a fabrication/installation’, which worked really well. I’ll use that technique again.
The mural has the interesting element of the rope, which invites interaction. What sparked that idea?
Interaction was exactly why the rope was included. It’s crazy intentional. It serves two purposes: It encourages the viewer to have fun/engage with the mural itself, and the angle of the rope sweeps the action upwards (which helps when a rabbit, bear, moose, and mountain lion on a windowsill all need to fit on your brick wall ‘canvas’).
You mentioned on Instagram that working with Brick & Bond was a positive experience. Why? How was it different from your experiences with other clients?
The normal artist/client relationship goes like this: The artist is commissioned to come up with an idea and execute it. The client provides design approval, financial backing, and additional support.
Usually, something goes a little haywire: Design approval goes through too many revisions, the artist takes too long, funds are held up, etc. This is natural, it’s not a surprise that it happens. But none of this happened with Brick & Bond, which floors me.
Brick & Bond were staggeringly supportive while giving me the space I needed to meet the deadline. Design choices, collaboration, an area provided for my paint and building materials — it all went like clockwork. They checked in on me, in person, to make sure I didn’t need food or sunblock. It was an incredibly positive experience, and quick installs of that magnitude rarely go so seamlessly.
This was your first mural. What are the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this medium?
I was actually told by another artist, “A mural? Don’t take the job.”
The challenges of a mural are daunting. It’s outdoors, it’s hot, and people are watching you work. It’s huge. Your canvas is a brick wall. Will your 8-inch moose sketch look good blown up to 12 feet?
All those challenges turned into positives. The wall texture made getting sidetracked by small details a non-issue. Strangers who stopped to talk were incredibly encouraging and supportive. And the moose looked better at 12 feet than he did in my sketchbook.
I’ve always really liked Casper. Stopping to talk to cowboys, children, bikers, you name it, made me like Casper even more. The positivity was astounding.
How long have you been back in Casper? What has the transition here from New York City meant for you as an artist?
Regardless of where I’ve lived, I always came back to Wyoming if I had time off. But I’ve been back in Casper permanently since late 2021. Because of the Wyoming people, landscape, and my friends and family, the transition has been smooth, but I still get impatient in line at the grocery store. I can’t shake that ‘always in a hurry’ NYC trait.
Artistically, it took time to acclimate, but I don’t think that’s an East Coast vs The West thing. I think inspiration and opportunities are just different wherever you go, and it takes time to discover them.
For us at Brick & Bond, the experience of working with Damien was also amazing. The mural he created has already become a treasured part of the visual landscape of the area. We look forward to seeing how artists like him will continue to add to the texture of the neighborhood as together we help build a dynamic district where people love to live, work, and play.
