'Wildflowers, warblers' migrate to building

SANDUSKY — New imagery flew into Sandusky, blooming from a once-drab building. Artist Derek Brennan recently completed a new mural, featuring warblers and wildflowers, at a multi-story brick structure at 303 E. Washington St. It's not far from the former Kreimes Cardinal Grocery store. Completed this past Friday, it's now the largest mural in Sandusky, city communications manager Tom Horsman said. Earlier this summer, Sandusky's arts and landmark commissions approved an exterior painting at this site, historically known as the Converse-Mertz Apartments. Murals help fulfill Sandusky's ongoing public art initiative. In short, officials identify opportunities where such visuals make sense to improve certain areas. This would include painting traffic boxes to placing sculptures in city parks. Spouses Alan and Mimi Chicotel acquired the building and partnered in this project, which totaled about $15,000. Local grant funds covered about half the expense. Both Mimi and Brennan — a 2009 Perkins High School graduate, who now lives in Cleveland — answered some questions about the larger-than-life painting: Building perspective, from Mimi • Why pursue it: "As the new artwork began coming up in town, Derek approached us about a mural outside, and we just loved the idea." • How the idea came to be: "While our building is part of the national historical registry, it doesn't have too much of a historical significance for the city of Sandusky. The most important thing is the building is already painted, so it is not going to impact the historical value of the building, and the mural will enhance and otherwise bland brown color that currently exists." • What the expectations are: "We hope this mural, the biggest one in Sandusky and the only one on a purely residential building, will add to the overall beauty and liveliness of downtown Sandusky." Artist perspective, from Brennan • Why pursue it: "I've always envisioned doing a large-scale mural downtown Sandusky. When I'm in town, I find myself just taking pictures of different buildings because I just think of them as canvases now." • How the idea came to be, part 1: "I've been working with Mimi over the last two years on a few smaller projects, and the idea came to me one day as I was leaving. Mimi was all about it from the beginning and was very responsive to all of my ideas. When working out ideas for a mural, I really wanted to reflect the growth I've gotten to witness over the years." • How the idea came to be, part 2: "Sandusky is a crucial path for the great warbler migration. Warblers are such a beautiful symbol of transformation and new life, so it all just came together to create this building-sized garden with brightly colored songbirds." • Where your passion lies: "Growing up in Sandusky, I didn't spend much time downtown and usually associated it with antique and thrift stores. But now I am coming downtown with my family for weekend vacations. This revitalization of downtown inspired me, and I felt having these giant growing wildflowers coming out from the brick building would bring life to the neighborhood." • What the expectations are: "I'm so honored and thankful to have received this grant from the city to create a mural and hope to find more ways to bring public art downtown in the future."