The Mothman takes on the Mother Road: Rick Sinnett’s Route 66 Mural Project
ON THE
by Molly O’Connor
Leaning against wobbly scaffolding thirty feet above ground, artist RP “Rick” Sinnett boldly applies thick layers of paint across the wall. Despite the relentless Oklahoma wind, extreme temperatures, inevitable gravity (or even angry teams of fire ants) his focus remains steady and intent as he transforms a plain wall into a vivid kaleidoscope of color. Within a few hours of fast and fearless work, Sinnett almost disappears into the wall as his original and vibrant mural emerges. For those who pass by, often gazing up in awe at the valiant, creative process and fluttering activity high above them, they might ask to themselves, “Is it any wonder that they call him ‘Mothman’?” An artist with a background in printmaking and 2-D design, Sinnett has most recently embarked on a new venture in creating large-scale public murals. Crediting his love of Oklahoma culture and, in particular, the history of Route 66, in 2011 Sinnett devised a plan to paint a total of eleven murals at different sites along Oklahoma’s section of the Mother Road. While this may sound like an overzealous pipedream, to date the first three of Sinnett’s murals have been completed in Bristow, El Reno and Tulsa. And now, plans for a fourth mural in Oklahoma City are swiftly moving towards production.
of the Rocktown Climbing Gym in downtown Oklahoma City, the silo measures 120 feet wide by 100 feet tall, proving to be the largest canvas Sinnett has ever painted. The work, titled This Land, includes images of Indian paintbrush flowers, the scissortail flycatcher and bison. It will add a splash of color to the Oklahoma City skyline and will also be viewable from the Oklahoma River. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign and the generosity of several supporters, Sinnett will complete This Land in summer of 2013. In addition to financial support from several individuals and local businesses, donated supplies such as paint and equipment and volunteer labor have also been secured to make the mural a reality. Most recently, Downtown Oklahoma City, Inc. pledged $10,000 to the project which helped Sinnett reach his fundraising goal. Overall, the murals, which are receiving national recognition, celebrate our Oklahoma culture and contribute to the authenticity of place. Each one has a clear connection to the community where it’s located, yet there are some common fundamentals that exist in the series. Sinnett’s iconic designs incorporate Oklahoma emblems and each one includes some element of land, water, vegetation and animal life.
Ironically, this new endeavor was almost unintentional. While Sinnett was passionate about the concept of public art and content with the design process, he initially planned to delegate the actual labor to a third party. Instead, the printmaker by trade has found the large-scale implementation to be exciting and rewarding. And, he’s grown to feel quite at ease working at great heights.
While working in Bristow, Sinnett discovered that the town historically had one of the highest concentrations of Lebanese immigrants in the country. Due to the influence of the Lebanese heritage, Bristow remains a major distributer of tabouli. This discovery influenced Sinnett to incorporate bulgur wheat into the mural design, a decision which appeased the local farmers.
For Sinnett’s next mural, the sky is truly the limit. Planned for the north and south sides
The selected sites for the murals are often set a bit off the main road and are painted on the
A digital rendering of the completed This Land mural on the Rocktown Climbing Gym in downtown Oklahoma City.
sides of silos or historic buildings. Sinnett intentionally chooses places that will lure art enthusiasts and travelers in search of roadside attractions. In the process, he has found that the murals have the capacity to attract visitors and generate new interest in local communities. “I’ve worked to be strategic in choosing places. The perfect canvas is usually found a little off the beaten track,” Sinett said. “I wanted to steer traffic to places that deserved it. I see the importance of the economic impact of the works by bringing people to a certain place.” In addition, the murals have become a catalyst for community discussion and understanding of public art. Sinnett works closely with civic leaders and community representatives in planning each mural. He also takes time to talk with visitors that stop by to observe the creative process. The works have been well received and have contributed to civic pride and a sense of cultural identity. “People can’t help but see the process and become attached to it. Daily, locals would come by and would create dialogue. This (continued to pg. 26)
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