Tessa Warner works on painting a mural on the side of the Heath Eagles building in an effort to spruce up the building. Warner has painted other murals, including ones inside her home. (Amy Picard, The Advocate)

Mural soars on Heath Eagles' home
Painter gives colorful facelift to club's building

By AMY PICARD • Advocate Reporter • August 15, 2008

NEWARK -- What started out as a plain blue box quickly is getting the notice of passers-by, as an eagle flying in the mountains has become apparent on the side of the Heath Eagles building.

"We are just trying to clean (the property) up -- make it look pretty and presentable to the public," Heath Eagles Secretary Bob Wright said.
But because of several new members, the Eagles were able to go beyond just replacing the parking lot. They commissioned Tessa Warner to paint a mural of a mountain scene on their building.

"Of course it was an eagle," said Eagles bartender Kim Dusenbury, who suggested her stepmother, Warner, for the project.

Painting murals is nothing new for Warner. She has a studio downtown in the Arcade and has been commissioned for works before.

"Inside of my house, that is all there is in there is murals," she said. "I have a waterfall coming down my stairs."

The mountains already are complete and Warner on Thursday was adding trees to the scene. The shape of the eagle is evident; Warner only needs to add the feathers.
She estimates she has painted for about eight hours.

"I paint fast," she said.

That's exciting for members, who are anxious to see the mural finished before their Sept. 7 district meeting.

Warner said this is the biggest mural she has painted so far.

But that, too, might be an advantage for the group. Wright said the Eagles hope the mural will help bring in members as people ask about it.

Already, the group placed eighth in the nation at the national convention for new membership.

"We are having lots of new things," Dusenbury said. "We are just getting bigger and better."

Amy Picard can be reached at (740) 328-8543 or apicard@newarkadvocate.com.