Acclaimed artist Nigel Sussman is visiting Waynesboro and creating a new mural at Music Makers
By Robb Helfrick
Nigel Sussman, a California-based illustrator and muralist, arrived in Waynesboro this week to create a new work of art. Sussman’s mural will imprint his distinct artistic style on the Music Makers’ interior space. The art will also serve as an immersive visual backdrop for the weekly live music performances the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro hosts at the 46 West Main Street space.
Sussman took a red-eye flight back east on Monday and promptly started the mural on Tuesday morning. This trip is a homecoming for Nigel, who grew up in the area before pursuing his advanced art education. He first attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh before transferring to the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. CCAC had an illustration program, and Sussman said that the specialty wasn’t a commonly found curriculum. After college, Nigel enjoyed the California climate and lifestyle and remained in the Bay Area. He now lives in Berkeley with his wife and son.
During a twenty-year career, Sussman’s style has evolved into his current practice of complex isometric-style murals. While the term isometric may not be familiar to some, Nigel said most people will recognize the style. It uses a 30-degree angle perspective on a grid where all visual components exist under the same rules- incorporating lines that remain parallel- so there is no vanishing point. Within this format, “any subject matter can be layered in, and it will make sense,” Sussman said.
Nigel has created murals on all scales, from outdoor projects several stories tall to indoor works that occupy a single wall. The new Music Makers mural is a medium-sized project he will complete in only a few days. The work was originally designed to decorate one wall, but now will cover three.
Sussman designed a sketch of the project before he began, which features Waynesboro landmarks and musical elements that honor the functionality of the Music Makers space. He welcomed the challenge when the project grew in size. “It’s always more fun for me if there’s some improvisation,” Nigel said. “Happy accidents then occur.”
He typically uses a sketch, drawn to scale as a guide, but Sussman also allows room for experimentation. Sussman approaches a mural project like a screen printing process- painting from light colors to dark.
The mural’s viewpoint will lead the eye into the room. Since the artwork will feature multiple subjects, it will have no specific focal point. Sussman will create the mural like he’s assembling a puzzle. “It has a lot of things going on- it’s a snapshot of Waynesboro.”
Sussman is deliberate about the color palette used for his works. He wants each particular piece to fit its surroundings and uses simple, yet striking hues. “It’s supposed to complement the room, not overwhelm it,” he said about the Music Makers mural. Nigel wants visitors to also focus on the performers.
Sussman mentioned that each project he creates has unique qualities. However, his playful style is easily recognizable in every finished work. “I’m messing with scale on purpose. Things are not proportional to each other, and that’s by design.” The result is light-hearted paintings that keep the viewer searching for more details. When the Music Makers mural is completed, visitors will experience a visual jewel in a space that celebrates artistic expression.
During his career, Sussman has seen mural’s popularity increase and noted that several cities across the country now host festivals to celebrate that artistic genre. “People are starting to appreciate murals more,” he said. Nigel also works with corporate clients like Google, eBay, and Adidas.
Sussman will return home to California after the Waynesboro mural is completed, but he has another Pennsylvania commission scheduled for this summer, in addition to a Utah project. “Public art is always a great addition to any space,” Nigel said.
Sussman’s finished work will be unveiled on Friday evening, during an artist reception for the adjoining Gallery 50 space. That new exhibition is titled “Here Comes the Sun,” and will feature a collaboration of local artists’ works. The reception will also include Music Maker’s traditional Friday live music, this week featuring “Sons of Pitches.” The event is free and takes place from 5:30 to 8 pm.
To learn more about Nigel Sussman’s art, visit his website: nigelsussman.com. Information about the Arts Alliance of Greater Waynesboro can be viewed by clicking below.
