Clintonville artist painting panels for spring installation
Local artist Jay Hornung will bring a dramatic change to the appearance of Gordon Noren Memorial Skate Park in Clintonville this spring.
Over the last few months, Hornung has designed and painted the first of several panels to be installed on the sides of elements in the park.
As a member of the Clintonville Lions Club, Hornung sought the financial support of the club to pay for the exterior plywood and the expensive, special paints needed to create the panels.
The Clintonville Lions have a long history with the skate park, beginning in the late 1990s when long-time Lions Club member Gordy Noren had a vision to create a skate park.
In 2016, the Lions provided just over $13,500 to purchase the current elements in the park.
The Lions have joined with the city’s Park and Recreation Department as a sponsor of the park.
The park is located next to the Old Armory on the corner of 12th Street and Lincoln Avenue.
Hornung has been working in the evenings and weekends the last four months, first creating character sketches on paper, then planning different characters to fit the different size elements in the park.
He completed this work at his home.
In December, Hornung arranged to create an art studio at Optimal Living next to No Boundaries Nutrition in downtown Clintonville.
This studio provided space to work on the large panels.
Hornung completed the first 31 feet of panels on Jan. 17.
His work began with painting a primer coat on sheets of plywood, then carefully pencil sketching his paper drawings, followed by the painting and then spraying several coats of a clear protective surface.
Mia Welte, a foreign exchange student from Germany, will assist with painting during her stay.
Another seven sections will be needed to complete the project.