A Michael Jackson mural heads to his hometown

Just two weeks before the start of a four-day celebration in the hometown of the King of Pop on the occasion of his birthday, a Los Angeles painter traveled to the area to gather inspiration. Rudy Rod Martinez is planning to install a Michael Jackson mural in his hometown of Gary, Indiana, USA. Virtual images of the mural will be shown on August 25 during the four-day festivities dubbed “The Week of Legends” at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary. Last year, on August 29—Michael’s birthday—Martinez painted the MJ2010 mural on the west side of the Pico Union Graff Lab design company’s headquarters, which is about 400 meters from the Staples Center. Michael spent the last days of his life at the Staples Center. (Read more) Completing the mural took six months, and it is now a source of joy for Michael’s fans and one of the tourist attractions in Los Angeles. The City of Gary is partnering with an LGR company in Illinois to support the four-day Michael Jackson celebration in his hometown. The company’s president says that when he saw photos of the mural and the controversy surrounding its creation, he told himself he had to contact its creator. Although it took a few weeks to reach him, he says it was worth it because Rudy’s work is extraordinary. Rudy says it’s time to design a second Michael Jackson mural, and the only thing he has to do is come to Gary and find a suitable wall for the job. Martinez describes the people of the city as warm and kind. Of course, it’s not only the people who have caught his attention. He also praises the city’s architecture. “Designing the buildings is magnificent! I’m amazed by the architecture of this city.” Martinez has been drawing since childhood, but professionally he has been working since the 1980s. He says the Michael mural will be completed next year and will be his gift to the city of Gary—so that it draws both Michael’s fans and tourists to the city. Right now, the small two-bedroom home of the Jackson family located at 2300 Jackson Boulevard is considered one of the city’s most important tourist attractions. Michael lived there with his eight brothers and sisters and their parents before they moved to California and settled in the large Encinso estate. Martinez says the mural is a tribute to the King of Pop and an inspiration for children who, by seeing it, open their minds beyond borders and limitations. “Then they tell themselves, ‘I can also become an artist, a musician, a poet, and a dancer.’ It’s important to introduce our children to art. If we don’t put them in front of our culture and art, they won’t become constructive people in the future.’” Source: eMJey.com / suntimes