Mural artists meet the public

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Mural artists Erik Burke and Gaia — along with Gaia’s assistant Maltese — were treated to a meet-and-greet event at the Charles City Arts Center on Thursday and spoke to the public at an “Artists in Action” reception on Friday evening at the site of their murals.

Burke is finishing up the wall of First Citizens Bank while Gaia continues work on the Snap Fitness wall as a part of the community’s “Town of Colors” public art project. The project will feature two murals, to be painted on the sides of businesses on Main Street. The theme of the mural Burke is working on is “Floral Explosion” while Gaia’s is called “Bodies in Motion.”

Gaia has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Art and Style list, has been a Fulbright beneficiary, and has work on display on six continents. Burke has worked throughout the United States as well as South America, Asia and Europe. The murals are expected be completed by the end of July.