New Wisconsin-themed fence mural debuts on Lombardi Avenue, just east of Lambeau Field in Green Bay
GREEN BAY - A new fence mural with the slogan "For the love of Wisconsin" was unveiled this week along Lombardi Avenue and just east of Lambeau Field.
The artist behind the mural, Spencer Young, said he designed it to celebrate important parts of Wisconsin culture.
"It started as a conversation, an idea with friends, and it blossomed into what it is today," said Young, creator of Forever Young Designs. "We thought that there's so much Packer hype around the area ... and the Wisconsin culture and tradition is so amazing, as well, that it seemed appropriate to highlight that."
Bringing this mural to life was a combined effort between Young, the Quaid family of Green Bay, who lives on Shadow Lane and who donated their fence to be painted, and a group of internet-famous Wisconsinites including:
Ryan Ruebl, creator of the social media page “Meanwhile in Wisconsin.”
Christie Barlament, the manager of the CityDeck Landing apartment building in downtown Green Bay and frequent guest on "Maino and the Mayor," a radio show on 97.9 FM WGBW.
Ed Bieber, known on social media as Ed the Diver.
Matt Ramage, creator of The Matt Ramage Show, a podcast dedicated to the Packers.
Each person involved in the fence mural's creation is featured on it, along with symbols to represent their love for Wisconsin and roles within the community, "whether it be making videos, comedy, cleaning up the environment, or our favorite movies with Chris Farley," Bieber said.
Part of the mural is dedicated to "Saturday Night Live" alum and larger-than-life Wisconsinite Chris Farley, one of the personal inspirations for each member of the group. Barlament said she and Bieber met with Farley's family to request permission to include an image of him on the Mural.
Young remembers growing up in the '90s and watching Farley on "Saturday Night Live," feeling inspired to create his own art and follow his passions. He chose to reference Farley's movie, "Tommy Boy," in the mural. His favorite part of the movie, the scene with the deer, was filmed in Oshkosh. So, he painted Farley's image on the first section of the fence, alongside a deer, Young said.
Each member of the Quaid family, who offered up their fence to the group for the mural, is also featured on it, dressed in green and gold. The family is painted next to the word "love," a choice to represent their love for both the Packers and Wisconsin, Young said.
"People pay thousands and thousands of dollars to use a fence, so that was really generous of the Quaid family to do that," Barlament said.
The mural also has some hidden references that fans of the internet stars behind the mural would recognize.
One hidden feature is a drawing of a Barbie doll next to Barlament and Bieber's portion of the mural. The Barbie is a reference to how the two met, and eventually fell in love, as Barlament bought a Barbie doll that Bieber found underwater in Crandon and auctioned online to fund river cleanup efforts, Bieber said.
Another hidden reference is the bratwurst and cheese necklace that Ruebl wears in his portion of the mural. A necklace that his followers will recognize as he's been wearing it to Packers games since 2009, he said.
Ramage said he hopes to see groups of Packers fans and local community members stop by to see the mural, and he's already received messages from his followers saying they're excited to take a photo with the mural when they attend games throughout the year.
Alyssa N. Salcedo is a reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: 'For the love of Wisconsin' mural revealed near Lambeau Field in Green Bay
