by Dan Breen

David Blodgett’s art decorates our community forming a backdrop to our lives. You see his art as you drive to work, visit libraries and go about your daily life. David Blodgett paints murals. He painted more than 160 murals since he began in 1977. Blodgett’s murals reflect our history, our whimsy and the story of our community.

“You would think the bloom would be off the rose,” says Blodgett. “But whenever I see a blank wall I get emotionally charged up.”

Blodgett painted the Mango Café. He said he was driving by and saw the building. He thought there is nothing to make that building stand out. He went home and drew a sketch. He took that sketch back to the owners. They loved the idea.

Mural painting for Blodgett began in Smithfield North Carolina about 40 miles south of Raleigh. “My wife and I were just out of graduate school from the University of Oregon. We were applying for jobs everywhere. North Carolina for some reason was trying to put a visiting artist in every county. I got the job in Johnston County.” Blodgett says he was being paid and living in a great house, but he didn’t have any job duties. He was associated with the local community college, but was not allowed to teach. “I went around telling people I am here anytime you want to talk about art. Of course, no one did.” As a working class town they had other more pressing concerns. They had practical worries.

“My wife said, we have to do something to earn our money, for crying out loud. So I said, what?” The couple ended up walking around town and found an empty wall. They said, let’s paint a mural. They had no idea how to paint a mural. The wall was in terrible shape. “We didn’t care,” says Blodgett. The couple involved the community and convinced a local store to donate the paint.

The mural included a man farming tobacco, the founder of Smithfield, local Indian history and a policeman from 1885. Ava Gardner was born in the area. They asked her local relatives to provide a photograph. The photograph they gave Ava Gardner was all cleavage, and Blodgett didn’t want to put that on the wall. So they used the photograph of her face, but gave her full dress. Because of the mural he was a shoe in for a second year in position.

When David and his wife returned to South Bend they found out the South Bend UAW Local 5 wanted a mural painted of their history. “We got the job! Ever since then we have been painting murals. Neither one of us thought we would be in the mural business.”

What is tricky is to get the images to work together, says Blodgett. He explains the whole piece of the mural has to have energy. The whole piece has to act as one unit.

Blodgett’s favorite recent pieces is at Andy’s Furniture in New Carlisle, Indiana. The theme of the mural is “We the People.” The mural includes everyday people; farmers, cowboys, Amish as well as my wife. It also includes Abraham Lincoln and Amelia Earhart. Blodgett is trying to capture an essence of America.

Blodgett sketched the beginning of the mural at home. He knew he had something so he went and drew the outline on the walls. “The art just flew!” said Blodgett. After he had a start he drew out the rest of the mural on the wall that day.

“Every square inch of the canvas has to participate,” says Blodgett. “Not every piece of the canvas has to be covered. It can be blank. But it must have purpose and add to the whole.”

Blodgett described how some muralists use a Christmas tree design. The whole wall is covered, but the pieces do not connect. It as if they threw everything at the design. “All areas have to work together to form one intense statement. If they don’t, you get nothing.”

“You have to have a color idea,” Says Blodgett. “You need color vibration. You need the warm colors to vibrate against the cooler colors. Color is a mystery. Sometimes you have to grope for the right color to bring energy to the painting. You want the proper hues and tones so the colors push against each other.” Blodgett says you have to be nimble in your choices. You can’t be afraid to try new things.

Merriman’s Playhouse South Bend, Indiana

Kate O’Connors Irish Pub New Carlisle, Indiana

Macri’s Italian Bakery South Bend, Indiana

A Backdrop to Michiana Life murals by David Blodgett