Vermont's Independent Voice
Browse News
Browse Arts + Culture
Browse Food + Drink
Browse Cannabis
Browse Music
Browse On Screen
Browse Events
Browse Classifieds
Browse Personals
Friday, May 5, 2017
Books Phoenix Books Burlington Unveils Kid-Friendly Mural
Posted
By Margot Harrison
on Fri, May 5, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Ludwig Bemelmans' Madeline marching in front of Edmunds Middle School. Frog and Toad in City Hall Park. Dragons who love tacos catching a bite on Church Street. Stephen Huneck's Sally getting a walk — from a cat! — near the Winooski Bridge.
These are some of the whimsical details that careful observers will spot in the mural by Underhill artist Kristin Richland that was officially unveiled last night in the children's section of Phoenix Books Burlington. It's part of Children's Book Week (May 1 to 7), which the store will also celebrate with a special story time on Saturday devoted to Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri's Dragons Love Tacos.
"I'd been thinking about murals since we opened the store," said co-owner Michael DeSanto, who opened Phoenix in 2012 with his wife, Renée Reiner. But it wasn't until he visited Bemelmans Bar in New York's The Carlyle, and saw the beloved illustrator's murals of Central Park splashed across its walls, that he said, "That's what we want to do!"
DeSanto asked Richland, whom he had known "for quite a while," to show him some drawings. The artist, 40, had never done a mural before, but her fanciful prints of animals, which she sells under the name Sweet Enemy Art, have made "people say I should illustrate children's books," she said.
Richland designed the mural last summer and began painting in October, perched atop a scaffolding 10 to 12 feet high. She took a break for the busy holiday season and finished by March.
Although she's not really finished — a mural of a fiery phoenix for a different wall is still to come. And Richland is now on the Phoenix staff, as a bookseller at the local chain's Essex store.
Winding across the three walls enclosing the store's section for younger readers, the mural consists of six separate scenes. Two are pastorals, in which animals enjoy books with views of trees and Camel's Hump. The others depict prominent Burlington locations: the Winooski Bridge (with the Champlain Mill, once home to DeSanto and Reiner's store the Book Rack and Children's Pages, in the background), City Hall Park, the Church Street Marketplace and Edmunds Middle School.
In the Church Street panel, protestors in front of City Hall bear signs touting the importance of reading and supporting indie stores. It's a fitting message for
These are some of the whimsical details that careful observers will spot in the mural by Underhill artist Kristin Richland that was officially unveiled last night in the children's section of Phoenix Books Burlington. It's part of Children's Book Week (May 1 to 7), which the store will also celebrate with a special story time on Saturday devoted to Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri's Dragons Love Tacos.
DeSanto asked Richland, whom he had known "for quite a while," to show him some drawings. The artist, 40, had never done a mural before, but her fanciful prints of animals, which she sells under the name Sweet Enemy Art, have made "people say I should illustrate children's books," she said.
Richland designed the mural last summer and began painting in October, perched atop a scaffolding 10 to 12 feet high. She took a break for the busy holiday season and finished by March.
Although she's not really finished — a mural of a fiery phoenix for a different wall is still to come. And Richland is now on the Phoenix staff, as a bookseller at the local chain's Essex store.
Winding across the three walls enclosing the store's section for younger readers, the mural consists of six separate scenes. Two are pastorals, in which animals enjoy books with views of trees and Camel's Hump. The others depict prominent Burlington locations: the Winooski Bridge (with the Champlain Mill, once home to DeSanto and Reiner's store the Book Rack and Children's Pages, in the background), City Hall Park, the Church Street Marketplace and Edmunds Middle School.
In the Church Street panel, protestors in front of City Hall bear signs touting the importance of reading and supporting indie stores. It's a fitting message for
Phoenix, which has expanded to two more locations (in Rutland and Chester) since the Burlington store opened and was a finalist for Publishers Weekly's Bookstore of the Year award in 2016.
"You read it like a story," said Richland of her mural. "I'm basically illustrating a book right here."
"You read it like a story," said Richland of her mural. "I'm basically illustrating a book right here."
Comments
Comments are closed.
Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we’ve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down — at least temporarily.
While we champion free speech, facts are a matter of life and death during the coronavirus pandemic, and right now Seven Days is prioritizing the production of responsible journalism over moderating online debates between readers.
To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor. Or send us a tip. We’ll check it out and report the results.
Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. Thanks for reading.
Related Locations
-
Phoenix Books (Burlington)
- 191 Bank St., Burlington Burlington VT 05401
-
802-448-3350
- www.phoenixbooks.biz
Related Stories
About The Author
Margot Harrison
Bio:
Margot Harrison is the Associate Editor at Seven Days; she coordinates literary and film coverage. In 2005, she won the John D. Donoghue award for arts criticism from the Vermont Press Association.
Margot Harrison is the Associate Editor at Seven Days; she coordinates literary and film coverage. In 2005, she won the John D. Donoghue award for arts criticism from the Vermont Press Association.
