Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has commissioned a group of local artists to paint a mural on the east side of its Third Ward building.
BlackPaint Studios, 338 N. Milwaukee St., unveiled its design Wednesday at the Third Ward Association’s architectural review board meeting.
The mural, a multi-colored pattern that wraps around the south side of the building at 302 N. Jackson St., with a depiction of a woman with wild hair looking toward the sky, drew criticism from the board for its bold colors and large scale.
“The scale of the human figure is overwhelming, and if you take the human figure out of it, it looks like the Sydney Hih building,” said Alderman Robert Bauman, referring to the former arts building in the Park East that was demolished by the city in 2012.
Katie Mullen, creative director at BlackPaint Studios, said the mural is intended to provide passersby with a moment of serenity, peace and strength and connect them to a modern, local woman.
Planned Parenthood would like to have the mural produced between July 18 and Aug. 12.
“In my opinion, Milwaukee doesn’t have enough bold, bright coloring,” Mullen said. “Having the Third Ward introduce something like this could encourage Milwaukee, as a whole, to be at the forefront of this.”
After a long discussion about the merits of the design, the board decided to table the item and asked Mullen to return with different options later this month.
