“Eclectic Flock” Lands at MPHS
If you’ve taken a walk to Bellevue State Park recently, you’ve probably noticed that a section of Marsh Road has been newly beautified.
Painted by nationally renowned artist Christian Kanienberg, “Eclectic Flock” is the name of the new mural that graces the side of Limmnia Field, home to Mount Pleasant High School’s baseball team. According to MPHS Principal Curi Calderon-Lacy, the mural was commissioned by State Representative Debra Heffernan.
An Avian Celebration
In an exclusive interview for our website, Christian told me the mural was designed to pay homage to local wildlife in the state park and our river-adjacent communities:
The birds include a horned owl, a robin, a sparrow, a bald eagle, and a crow. The deeper meaning incorporates the high school, as the birds serve as a metaphor for student diversity and socialization. Some birds are solo, and others are flying in pairs both vertically or more horizontally.
Christian went on to note that the choice of colors also has meaning: “Sunrise gold and deep greens are evidence through colors that the mural pays mind to Mt. Pleasant High School without being an overt theme that non-alumni don't feel a connection to.” Lastly, the neighborhoods “carved” into the trees throughout the mural also bridge the gap between a community identity mural and literal feeder patterns for the student body of the high school.
First State Familiar
Christian’s work is familiar to Delaware. He has painted murals throughout Delaware including the “Welcome to Wilmington” mural on Pennsylvania Avenue leading into Wilmington and two murals in Trolley Square. Be on the lookout for his upcoming works on Main Street in Newark, and another very special ode to the Bob Marley family in conjunction with the Kenny Family ShopRite and the Mayor’s office.
Christian says the public response while he was working on the project was overwhelmingly supportive. Wilmington has truly embraced public art through murals as evidenced by the growing interest throughout the City.