A new art mural, visible just as you enter Atlanta, has caught the attention of residents and tourists alike.
The mural is located on the sides of the Fireside Lodge, spanning the entire building with realistic nature paintings of lakes, forests, campfires, and animals, including bears, raccoons, and elk.
The artwork was commissioned by motel owner Joe Lisa, who said he’s in the process of making renovations to the building. He said he’s wanted to do a project like this for a while, and had a specific artist he wanted to commission for it.
That artist is Jules Muck, also known as muckrock on Instagram, a traveling graffiti artist who’s been active since the 1990s. Originally getting her start in Europe and New York, the artist now lives in California and takes commissions across the country.
“She’s actually done some other projects for me in the past,” he said. “We were talking about doing a facade of half logs to make it look like a log cabin … we were toying with different things for a while, but when I talked to her about it, she was like ‘Oh, this is the perfect canvas, I can make this really cool, just let me do my thing.’”
Lisa said he let Muck have creative freedom when designing the mural, as his project was just one of many she would be working on that week.
Muck said she has been traveling along the East Coast for the last few weeks working on various projects, including the Fireside Lodge. She said Lisa was very persistent about getting the project off the ground.
“I really like what he does, I think he does a really good job setting up these fun experiences for people,” she said. “I think the mural (will) add to that. It makes places more unique and fun, and a little more like you’re in a special place for your vacation.”
Muck said while the project did not take long, it’s one of her most intense pieces she’s made in a while. While Lisa gave her creative freedom on the project, Muck said she went out of her way to talk to locals and find what animals and details stood out to Michigan residents.
“I was getting to know people and kind of bringing everyone into the project, what they would like to see and what the area means to them,” she said. “I’m really happy with everyone who came by, shouting good tidings and how much they loved it. I was happy to be a part of the transformation.”
Muck said she is proud of the piece and is glad to see it making a positive impact on the community. Lisa said while it’s too early to tell if stays are increasing, he has received positive comments from visitors and noticed people stopping their cars to take photos.
“She’s basically changed the whole entrance of this town now,” he said.
Lisa said he hopes the mural can be one of many factors that will attract more tourists to Northeast Michigan and to make the town lively.
“We’re really trying to change the lodging concept, and we’re really trying to bring some tourism to the town of Atlanta,” he said. “It’s a really cute town, and it has the ability to continue to grow. We want to help make that impact.”
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