Noblesville Mural is Turning Heads

Writer / Pat Carlini
Photographer /  Brian Brosmer

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Nobleville’s Chris Owens, Jeff Williams with Olive and Alaina Shonkwiler

A new mural painted on the side of an historic building in downtown Noblesville is attracting a lot of attention!

The whimsical, Tim Burton-esque painting dotted with puffy clouds is instantly recognized by many as the work of local and internationally renowned artist Gabriel Lehman.

The artist spent three days on scaffolding in late August — during the hottest week of the summer — to paint the mural on the FF&S building at 44 S. 8th Street in Hipstoric Noblesville.

“It turned out great!” says Economic Development Specialist Alaina Shonkwiler who worked to get the project off the ground through the Façade Improvement Grant Project. “This is what we try to do:
showcase local talent in various ways and get it out in the public eye. It’s what helps make Noblesville unique,” says Alaina.

Jeff Williams, Noblesville businessman and owner of the building, also enjoys the mural, but for him, the painting has a special meaning.

“I met with Gabriel to discuss ideas for the mural, and during our conversation, I mentioned my daughter Olive who was not quite a year old,” recalls Jeff. “Soon after that, Gabriel said he had the idea: a tribute to Olive called ‘Olive and Her Amazing Cloud Machine!’ I loved it!”

Lehman burst onto the local art scene in Noblesville about three years ago, and the art community immediately took to his unique style of painting.

He did have a gallery in Noblesville, but his work is no longer there as he now has international representation.

The mural on the 1910 building replaces a badly faded mural that was painted there more than a decade ago.

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Local artist Gabriel Lehman was commissioned to paint the mural at 44S. 8th St. in Noblesville

Murals on building used to be a popular form of advertisement for businesses, but many cities today like Noblesville have sign ordinances prohibiting murals for advertisements. So the colorful, cartoon-like mural with Lehman’s signature puffy clouds that appear to be floating off the building seems to be the perfect addition to the Hipstoric Noblesville landscape.

It is certainly enjoyed by many passing by on foot or in cars and will undoubtedly be enjoyed by Olive when she is old enough to learn of the story behind the mural!

You can learn more about Hipstoric Noblesville and their many events to celebrate the arts by checking out their Facebook page (facebook.com/hipstoricnoblesville), and you can learn more about artist Gabriel Lehman at gabriellehman.com.

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