Murals Painting on Gibbons Hall in Notre Dame University
Notre Dame of Maryland University is a private catholic university in the suburbs of Baltimore in Maryland. It was founded in 1873 by the Roman Catholic educational, religious congregation of the school sisters of Notre Dane. The women’s college has a population of about three thousand students. Among other facilities, the campus is equipped with state-of-the-art halls. The halls are Meletia hall, Fourier hall, Theresa hall, and the iconic Gibbons Hall (University of Notre Dame).
Gibbons Hall, named after the Archbishop of Baltimore, James Gibbons, is a landmark that sits in the highest point in the city and acts as a symbol of the university’s position in the Baltimore city. Gibbons hall represents the past, the present, and the future of Notre Dame University. The hall plans on having mural paints on its interior walls as part of its renovation. A proficient artist that will incorporate the rich history and the symbolic state of Gibbons hall in his art is Eduardo Kobra (Kiriakos, 2008). Kobra, a Brazilian muralist, is among the most popular artist influenced by research. His work involves science behind the human vision, urban space, architecture, and three-dimensional works. Kobra qualifies to paint the historical Gibbons hall that has its pride in ancient architecture and deep religious background of Notre Dame University.
Eduardo Kobra uses a combination of techniques in his work to create masterpieces. His techniques involve airbrush and spray paint mediums to bring out accurate details, rich colors, shadow, artistic light, and perfect aesthetic in creating 3-D images. Gibbons hall is an immense facility used by over three thousand students. Painting murals on the huge walls of the iconic building requires a world-class artist with talent and passion for street graffiti. Kobra is well-known for its world’s largest murals on street walls and buildings (Campos, 2016). He painted the then-largest murals, The Ethnicities, celebrated in the 2016 Olympic games. He also later painted a record largest painting in 2017.
Notre Dame is a Catholic university whose mission is deeply rooted in Christian values of faith, justice, peace, love, and unity of Christians. Muralist that would fit to paint the Gibbons hall needs to have a similar vision to easily communicate the Christian practice in the artwork. Kora’s murals are based on human rights activism, peace, and unity. Among his work on love and human rights are the murals of mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi. He is an artist that shares similar believes with Notre Dame University in promoting peace and unity (Campos, 2016).
Gibbons hall is unique in its architectural design. Its design makes it stand out in the suburbs of Baltimore and gives its iconic nature. Eduardo Kobra proves to be a specialist in painting murals on iconic structures and also replicating the unique designs of such buildings on the walls of streets or buildings. He is popular for murals painted in Murcia; Spain entitled Face of Salvador Dali.
Kobra is a specialist in both contemporary and modern art. His work is useful in bringing out the past culture and historical events while fusing it with modern aspects of life. His specialty is ideal in painting the rich history of Notre Dame fused with the present modernity on the walls of Gibbons hall.
Figure1. Eduardo Kobra, Christ, 2018. Paint on wall, larger than life-size, 833 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn
Figure2. Eduardo Kobra, black or white, 2018. Paint on wall, larger than life-size, 400 E 11th Street, New York2.
Figure3. Eduardo Kobra, The Braves Of 9/11, 2018. Spray on the wall, larger than life-size, 3rd Ave. New York.
Figure 4. Eduardo Kobra, Stop Guns, 2018. Paint on wall, larger than life-size, 231 Eldridge Street, New York
Figure 5. Eduardo Kobra, Tolerance, 2018. Paint on wall, larger-than-life-size, 10th Ave. New York5
Figure 6. Eduardo Kobra, Colors of Liberty, 2018. Paint on wall, larger than life-size, 49 Thompson Street, New York.
Figure 7. Eduardo Kobra, The 27 club, 2018. Spray on the wall, larger than life-size, 46 Rivington Street. New York
Reference
Campos Jr., CelsoKobra. Rio de Janeiro: Arte Ensaio Editoria Ltda. ISBN 9788560504879. OCLC 995121094. (2016).
Kiriakos, L; Publikat Mural Art: Murals on huge public surfaces around the world from graffiti to trompe l’oel. Mainaschaff: Publikat Verlags-und Handels & Co. p. 132. (2008).
University Communications | University of Notre Dame. “History.” The University of Notre Dame. n.d. https://www.nd.edu/about/history/.2020