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Blog Entry 42 of 126 Gladys Mercier, Arvada.
I like living in Arvada.I am a member of Trinity Baptist Church and have many good friends there.I lived in the same house in Denver until I married, so as you can see, I am a native.My husband and I adopted 2 Korean sons who are now adults, 1 is a State Patrol Sgt., the other is an upholsterer. My husband died Sept.1st,2005. My family is a real blessing to me.I will probably write most about them, especially my great grandchildren (3)

An incredible piece of art!
Contributed by: Gladys Mercier   on 12/7/2006

Ever hear of a Christmas mural laid flat and walked upon before being hung?
Yes, WALKED upon. This necessary "walk upon" actually strengthens the art project. It is 120 square feet --while small for a mural, it is easily the largest of its type in the U.S. today... as well as possibly the oldest.

The above is not an exaggeration for valid reasons: Not a drop of paint is involved. Multiple layers of art tissue are held together by several gallons of rubber cement. Artists refrain from working large because of the temporary nature of both tissue paper and rubber cement.

Sealing tissue from oxygen, via clear contac paper provided the answer for the artist. Back in 1980, he engaged 22 seniors in endless paper cutting. His wife, Ann, suggested this help when her busy teacher/husband had delayed attempting an original large project fortwo years.

The church's well-detailed nativity figurines were used as models for a 29-inch drawing which had to be cut intosix segments forsix projections onto Contac-reinforced sign paper measuring 8 by 15 feet. An exception is the shepherd, which is a stylized version of a figure in an old Ideals illustration.

All lines in the Ultimate Reason are straight lines except in one VERY special place, where the baby Jesus lay! The Ultimate Reason is appropiately titled because it shows Joseph unknowingly holding the newborn Christ in the position He is to appear on a Roman cross 33 years later!
The scene is backlighted by 25 floodlights.

Special precautions have to be taken in the delicate process of attachment to a 100-pound frame winched from above. The now 84-year-old artist gave the following instuctions to the senior helpers on a ladder 10 feet above the church choir loft: "If you feel you're gonna fall, try to fall AWAY from the tissue, not THROUGH it!"

The Ultimate Reason will be displayed at Trinity Baptist Church's 10:45 a.m. Sunday services until January 2. Please come to Trinity to see this incredible work of art. It is truly beautiful. Trinity is at 4490 Newland in Wheat Ridge.

Story told to Gladys Mercier by artist Harold Muller, of Westminster.



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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Gladys Mercier

Arvada , CO

Gladys Mercier has posted 126 blog entries and 968 comments since joining on 12/9/2005. Gladys Mercier 's average blog rating is 4.99.
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