High Noon: Behind The Scenes: A Look At 50 Years Of Mural Making You Never Knew Existed W/ Robert Fishbone, Owner And Co-Founder Of On The Wall Productions, Inc

Robert Fishbone, owner and co-founder of ON THE WALL PRODUCTIONS, Inc Robert Fishbone is no stranger to public art. Over a 50 year career, beginning with his late wife Sarah Linquist and more recently his daughter Liza Fishbone, he and his company, ON THE WALL PRODUCTIONS, have been involved in almost 200 site specific mural projects, no two alike. Arriving in 1973 from Antioch College for a media job that never came through, they seized on an opportunity to design and paint a 6,000 square foot mural in downtown St. Louis. “Since Sarah was already a talented artist, and I liked tackling challenges that could utilize my technical background, we felt that totally qualified us to do a gigantic mural, ‘We could do that!’ The result was a whimsical, uplifting image, that transformed not just the wall and area but how people perceived the entire urban environment and how it could be better. With so many blank walls (still!) the public wanted more. Thus began an unexpected career.” Working with the City, various arts organizations, business owners, and neighborhood organizations, by 1982, Robert and Sarah had 35 large and very colorful murals up all over St. Louis including the iconic Lindy Squared. They had projects across six states. Sadly, all those earlier works have vanished due to age and urban transformation, which is the destiny of many murals. Using slides, video, a few props, and vivid stories, Robert will guide you through a behind the scenes look at lost projects, bringing them to life, and will reveal the simple philosophy that underlies all these works. He will also show how the work dramatically changed by working with Liza and will address the challenges of a current project, the restoration of the monumental World’s Fair mural on the old Edison Brothers Building next to Hwy 64/40. “We have a number of activities planned to mark this milestone anniversary, and are pleased to have High Noon host the kickoff event.” Kranzberg Arts Foundation High Noon offers free cultural and artistic programming, during your lunch hour! The High Noon series features St. Louis thought leaders from across the arts, cultural, and educational spectrum. Spend a lunch hour enjoying presentations and performances in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere – take a break, and feel free to bring your lunch! High Noons in the Listening Room at High Low (3301 Washington Avenue) take place every Thursday from 12 to 1pm.