"First Team" Mural

[KenFSU]

Just wanted to point out how incredible this mural was, and how sad it is that the city allowed it to deteriorate, be painted over, and fade into memory in 2004. At the time of its completion, it was the largest hand-painted mural in America. Planning took seven months, and the painting process itself took over two months, 12 artists, 350 gallons of paint, and 14-levels of scaffolding. The artist who had dedicated a year of her life to the project, Anne Banas, supposedly didn't even know it was being painted over until the process was already underway. What's done is done, but man, this was a really iconic, expensive landmark that was featured on every single nationally televised Jaguars game. Blows my mind that it was painted over, at the team and city's expense, after only six years, right before the Super Bowl no less.

[Noone]

Lets point out a year later we had 2005-207 and the subsequent study that said that the Old Fuller Warren Bridge could be saved and used. We all know how that ended up. We are so LOST. Anne Banas didn't know what was happening to her ...................

What word is appropriate?

Passion, Love, Work, Art

We still have the Hollis jersey and Coughlin. What an icon.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Horrible, horrible decision.  It was a landmark for travelers on 95 and expressed the city's pride in the team.  Unbelievable that the city used the excuse that none of the players were on the team anymore as a reason to paint over it.

I have a print of the mural hanging in my house.

[fsquid]

never knew about that, that is cool.

[JayBird]

I remember this when I first moved here, always though that was so cool and wondered why with all the billboards and murals around the Meadowlands why the Giants had never done something similar.  I had always thought it came down just as a matter of course after a set period of time, hate to learn that it was just the ignorance of city leadership.

[mbwright]

Yet again another cool thing allowed to deteriorate.  I am sure the artist would have liked the opportunity to redo or preserve it.  I would have hoped that there was a maintenance agreement for this when it was done.

[Tacachale]

Fun fact, Anne Banas was, with Jim Draper, one of the artists who created the still-extant Jaguar windows on the Bostwick Building.

[KenFSU]

Fun fact, Anne Banas was, with Jim Draper, one of the artists who created the still-extant Jaguar windows on the Bostwick Building.

Here's a photo of them working on the Bostwick panels in their studio:



Really underrated accomplishment, as the panels were so large that Banas and Draper had no way of seeing what the panels would look like together until they were actually installed on the Bostwick Building.

[Tacachale]

Just wanted to point out how incredible this mural was, and how sad it is that the city allowed it to deteriorate, be painted over, and fade into memory in 2004. At the time of its completion, it was the largest hand-painted mural in America. Planning took seven months, and the painting process itself took over two months, 12 artists, 350 gallons of paint, and 14-levels of scaffolding. The artist who had dedicated a year of her life to the project, Anne Banas, supposedly didn't even know it was being painted over until the process was already underway. What's done is done, but man, this was a really iconic, expensive landmark that was featured on every single nationally televised Jaguars game. Blows my mind that it was painted over, at the team and city's expense, after only six years, right before the Super Bowl no less.

I'll have to check, but I don't think the city had anything to do with it. The original mural was painted for First Union Bank, which went extinct when it was absorbed by Wachovia. Wachovia painted over the mural before they sold the building.

[KenFSU]

I'll have to check, but I don't think the city had anything to do with it. The original mural was painted for First Union Bank, which went extinct when it was absorbed by Wachovia. Wachovia painted over the mural before they sold the building.

You're right.

Wachovia and the Jaguars split the cost to paint over the mural:

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092904/met_16767787.shtml

[mbwright]

I stand corrected.  Still would be nice to have up.  I think there was a bit of civic pride generated.

[duvaldude08]

With all the focus of art downtown, I would like to see another mural like this. With this whole new era for the Jags happening, I think its about time.

[fsujax]

Since this building is in the City's hands now, it should be a no brainer to get something back up there.

[duvaldude08]

I cant believe the team didnt want to pay to have it redone, but would help pay to cover it up. That ass backwards. I love Wayne, but he was a cheap old buzzard.

[Rynjny]

Wonder how much would it cost to put a new Jaguars mural there?...it would be a great for downtown!