"Detour" by Matthew Deheamers

 

 "Detour" by Matthew Dehaemers

 (Fish eye view of the regular image portrait in Joplin's I-44 Welcome Center)

(Fish eye view of mural - you can see the word "Joplin" clearly enhanced and the imagery depicted)

                     The first response I had to the mural in Joplin at I-44 Welcome Center was a basic idea of the South-West Missouri area. The bold lettering of "Joplin" stood out to me the most, in the beginning. It gave me a sense of looking at a map or an atlas. Each letter in the painting represents something different, significant, and unique. The work of the art reveals to the tourist: what this area offers and what it's known for, both historically and presently. The subject of the mural consists of a dramatic scene of regionalism. The colors and graphics are eye-catching to the viewers. The license plates are a great idea in getting attention of all ages. I believe the detail and creativity put forth is outstanding. The composition as a whole is an appealing, friendly and welcoming piece for the community to enjoy!

                        The work was made in 2009 at the Joplin I-44 Welcome center. The piece of the art was commissioned by the Missouri Department of Transportation. It was made with Acrylic Latex and 500 plus recycled license plates. Mr. Dehaemers wanted to create a visual story about the history of Joplin Mo. Those who go see it see how much this city has changed and what there is to offer.

                       "Detour", a mural made by the artist Matthew Dehaemers, was made from the artists' passion and love for Joplin and other cities of what it has to offer and is known for. Matthew wanted the local community to be proud of the area that represents them and also for those visiting the areas to appreciate the honoring of the state on the wall of the Joplin I-44 Visitor's Center. An interesting point that Matthew has made was that he talked about his childhood game, the License Plate Game, and how he created a concept on the mural to put the license plates from all over the states. In this way children, as well as adults, would be interested as they walk into the door and also becomes and educational tool in the understanding and identifying the 50 states through the names and the distinctive images on each state's plate.

                       Detour is a massive wall size postcard created by Matthew that is created with acrylic latex paint, 500 plus recycled license plates on a medium density fiberboard (aka MDF). It is a larger than life mural from estimation around 12 ft high and 20 ft wide. The paintings are in the form of the word, "Joplin" and the license plates are in the background of the piece. The color is mainly yellow, warm colors contrasted by some cool colors. The faces are realistic but the painting is cartoony. It is a highly patterned mural by the repitition of the license plates and unsymmetrical. This mural pops out at you because it creates an almost 3-D sense and the vivid colors are also an enhancement.

                          The title of the work is "Detour". Detour means a long or roundabout route taken to avoid something or to make a visit a long the way. Detour helps illuminate the work because of the building itself, Joplin I-44 Welcome Center, a rest stop for visitors. People who drop by the Welcome Center also see the mural and in a way it is a "detour" stop to them because the mural is huge and captivating and located as soon as you enter. Inside each individual letter in "Joplin" are the themes that he worked on showing a variety of people, places and attractions or activities representing the area and depicts historical events as well. When visitors or even locals come here to study these, they educate themselves and possible become more interested and take that second route or "detour", adding that experience into their road trip. The work detour represents a scene of regionalism and an idea of the area combined together. It helps illuminate the work by using the license plates that are included in the art work and the Route 66 sign. Also the concept of it being a massive postcard reflects of that of someone traveling and sending a representation of where they are at or been in reflection to the visiting definition of detour. Overall, Matthew hopes to inspire visitor's out of curiosity to discover more about the subjects so that they may decide to take a "detour" through his work to the local area's or just the subjects historical events itself.