Monday Mural: Greg Oberle's Look at Lansing's Transportation Heritage

Four years ago I wrote THIS POST about a mural our Number One kid, Greg, was doing in Lansing's REO Town, an area that has been in revitalization in recent years. At the time Greg did the original mural, he was 29.

In the intervening years, the building has changed tenants and the new law firm in the space, McClellan and Anderson, wanted some touch-ups and additions to the mural.

Greg was happy to oblige!

The mural covers what was once the side wall of a local grocery store. Its later tenants subdivided the floor space for offices.  Here's a look at it when Greg was starting several years ago. It doesn't show the entire wall but you get the idea. It's big!

Since the earlier tenants were tech-based, the overall theme of the mural included a good deal related to tech.

Greg also focused on one of Michigan's (and Lansing's) key pioneers, R.E. Olds, who invented the Oldsmobile. His other company was REO Motors, which was located in this part of town, a section of Lansing now known as REO Town, which is in the process of revitalization.

 Olds was the first person to use a stationary assembly line in the automotive industry. Henry Ford later used the idea of a moving assembly line to manufacture cars.

So, Olds also played a key part in the mural, as well as the topic of transportation, its past and future.

In the mural, we see a woman in her carriage next to an astronaut, the space traveler.

We note the words of "Back to the Future" character, Doc Brown.

R.E. Olds was also a local philanthropist and a founder of several companies, including one of the area's best-known banks for many years called Michigan National Bank. It was housed in the Olds Tower (1931), still the tallest office building in Lansing (now Boji Tower). Olds was the primary financier of the tower. When completed in 1931 it was, and remains, the tallest office building in Lansing. In Greg's work, an unsightly wall fixture becomes the head of a robot, who is popping out of the top of Boji Tower.

Some detail.

New portions of the mural done this past month include a live look out from the window to capture the new power plant building and towers.

He said he worked "live" for this one, drawing as he looked out the adjacent window.

Over the doorway, Greg added this piece of art done from an original REO advertisement.

The building also has a brick arch that was covered over. Greg added the train roaring through, as though it is a tunnel.

This part was still a bit unfinished when I took the photos. You can see the lines for where the smoke and additional detail is to be added.

Here's a bit of detail, more "head on."

I have to say, that when we take a look at this mural, we're pretty darned proud of this guy!

He's off to L.A. to find life in the art world there. So, if you know anyone who might need a mural (or smaller work!) please pass the word! His portfolio includes several restaurants, CD covers, posters, and more! He's willing to travel to the work, too so don't let location be the issue! You can check out more of Greg's art or follow him on Instagram HERE.

After all, we do want him to be able to eat!

Sharing with:   Sami's Mural Monday    /    Let's Keep In Touch      /   Follow the Yellow Brick Road  /      Best of the Weekend    /     Pink Saturday