By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Popping out of the otherwise urban scene of railroad tracks and parking is a vibrant plains scene, which is the latest Brush the Bricks downtown mural.
The mural, on the north side of the Golden Q, 809 Ash, is by Dennis Schiel. With giant bees, butterflies and a frog on a swing, Schiel said the artwork is more whimsical than some of the other murals he has painted in Hays.
He has also painted murals on the side of the Fox Theatre, VFW, S&W Supply and the Arc of the Central Plains buildings. The latter two murals were part of the Brush the Bricks project.
Schiel's newest mural, which is 16 by 55 feet, includes the word, "Hays," in letters about 8 to 9 feet tall. It also features sunflowers, a bison and corn.
He said he always tries to include a bison in his murals, which can also be seen on his Fox Theatre mural and the "Three Amigos" mural on the S&W Supply building.
The mural is not quite done. The word "Hays" will contain the mascots of all the schools in the Hays, including a Fort Hays State University tiger, Hays High School Indian, NCK Tech bull and the TMP bison.
The mural was started in June and should be completed by the end of July, Schiel said.
Last summer Matt Miller painted a homage to the Native people of the Plains, which was also as part of the Brush the Bricks project. That mural is on the north side of State Glass Co., 421 Main.
Miller will be painting another mural for the project on the side of Sake2Me, 803 Fort, starting yet this summer. That mural will depict a Chinese dragon.
Schiel will be directing a third mural project this summer as part of the Brush the Bricks project, which will be on the north side of the Midland Marketing building, 219 E. Ninth.
Midland Marketing donated $20,000 to the Brush the Bricks project.
This project will involve community volunteers, both novice and professional painters working on the mural together.
Brush the Bricks will be paying for paint and supplies.
"I will kind of draw it out, " Schiel said. "I usually never draw something out, and it will be more like a paint by number."
Schiel said he will teach novice painters and let professionals paint in their own way.
"It'll be fun for the person to paint," he said.
The mural will depict an agricultural scene, including a barn and cattle.
Most of the painting times will likely be on the weekends or evenings, probably between 6 and 10 p.m., to allow more people to participate. Portions of the mural can only be done by adults because they will have to be on a scissor lift.
Anyone interested in volunteering on the project can email Schiel at [email protected].