Internationally-known artist chosen to paint mural in Greencastle

Veterans of more than 50 large-scale murals over the last nine years, internationally-known artist Key Detail and wife Julia Yu-Baba have been selected to paint an 8,000-square-foot mural on four silos on the south side of Greencastle. The Putnam County Mural Project is expected to be completed by the end of September.

Courtesy photo/KEY DETAIL

After engaging the community for six weeks to help inform the style and content of an 8,000-square-foot “canvas,” organizers of the Putnam County Mural Project have chosen an artist to bring the ideas to life.

Key Detail, an internationally known mural artist, has been selected to create one of Indiana’s largest murals on four large grain silos at the corner of Veterans Memorial Highway and U.S. 231 in Greencastle.

The Putnam County Mural Project received more than 70 applications from muralists worldwide for the project, which will stand at a primary gateway to Greencastle.

The process of choosing the artist began over the summer as community members voted for their favorite mural styles at farmers markets, libraries and other community centers across the county, including the Putnam County Jail.

Then, a selection committee of more than two dozen residents, including a high school student, art teachers, community leaders and artists, convened to review the applications.

The six-member Putnam County Mural Project committee selected Key Detail based on their recommendations.

“We looked carefully at each proposal and the top choices were further discussed and evaluated from a wide variety of perspectives taking into account all of the feedback from the community,” said Amy Robinson, art teacher at Greencastle Middle School, and a member of the selection committee. “The thrilling part is how many proposals — from all over the world — were received and the way everyone came together around a handful of professional muralists that we felt confident could create a work of art as rich and wonderful as this community.”

Key Detail is the artist name for Andrei Krautsou who, along with his wife Julia Yu-Baba, will be working together on the mural. Krautsou studied architecture and design in Minsk, Belarus and is currently based in New York.

He and Julia have completed more than 50 large-scale murals over the past nine years all over the world and their artwork has been featured in a number of international magazines and books.

Residents countywide will continue to influence what goes on the four grain silos by voting on two renderings at the Aug. 2 Greencastle First Friday, a monthly event regularly drawing a couple thousand people to the Putnam County Courthouse Square.

“This project has been a truly collaborative process,” said committee member Alexandra Chamberlain. “Pockets of people from across the county have given time, money and, most importantly, feedback and ideas as to how to make this project truly matter.”

Prepping the silo “canvases” will take place in August and mural installation will begin and be complete by the end of September. In addition to painting the mural, Key Detail will host a workshop for community members interested in learning about public art through murals, specifically focusing on spray paint and stenciling techniques.

“This is what public art does best, it brings the community together to build something new with each other,” said Chamberlain. “I cannot wait to see how Key Detail takes what our community has gathered and turns it into a visual that encompasses, showcases and gratifies us all.”

To learn more about the artist and events surrounding the project, please visit www.putnamcountymuralproject.org.