Brian Major to re-create Picasso’s 'Aubade' outside Redmond City Hall

The Redmond Arts Commission strives to make art a natural component of everyday life in this fair city. So from time to time, you’ll see someone doing something unexpected in a very public setting.

On Friday, starting around 10:30 a.m., artist Brian Major will re-create Picasso’s “Aubade” circa 1942 — on the sidewalk, in chalk — outside of Redmond City Hall, 15670 NE 85th St.

“The original work was set during a dark, foreboding time of Europe,” said Major. “Today, I have the opportunity by using chalk as a medium to bring life to the atmosphere of these two figures. The lady being serenaded by the mandolin player will come to life in Redmond, feeling the urban artistic commitment of today’s world. This chalk mural will be cutting-edge, guided by the master Picasso. An aubade (is) a song, poem or piece of instrumental music celebrating or greeting the dawn.”

We asked Major about the transient nature of an outdoor chalk mural in a metropolitan area known as Rain City. He expects that his mural outside of Redmond City Hall will be finished around 8 p.m. that day, but who can trust Jeff Renner to say it’s not going to wash away by the next morning?

“Weather is always a factor in this,” Major replied, “but they have been known to last for months.”

Major lives in Blaine, Wash. and makes most of his income from commissioned art work. He custom-designs art for commercial buildings, office spaces, home and does the occasional baby portrait or interior mural.

You may have recently seen him at the Bellevue Art Museum Fair, recreating “American Gothic” in chalk. He’s also done special art projects for Bellevue Square, the Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Public Library.

While he’s working on his chalk mural in Redmond, the free Redmond Arts Jam will also be underway at City Hall. Singers, instrumentalists and spoken word artists from the community will take the stage with a group of professional back-up musicians.

For more information about Brian Major, visit www.majorarts.com. To learn about the Redmond Arts Jam, call (425) 556-2300 or visit www.redmond.gov.

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