GREEN BAY (WLUK) — The Milwaukee Brewers’ success has brought a lot of summer fun the past few years, but they’re taking it to new heights this year — on and off the field.
Public art for a professional sports team in Green Bay has always been reserved for the Packers, but the best team in baseball is now getting in on the action.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Adam Brabant, a Brewers fan from Ashwaubenon. “The Brewers are playing great right now. Ton of Packers stuff in town, but it’s nice to see the Brewers getting some love too.”
The love is being painted by Green Bay artist Andrew Linskens, who also does live painting in the Titletown District on Packers gamedays.
“I’ve actually been trying to work with them [the Brewers] for many years doing live painting,” said Linskens. “Because of the playoff schedule, it hasn’t worked out in the last few years.”
Linskens’ work can be seen in other parts of the Broadway District, making the back of the Hurkman Mechanical building a home run for his new blue and gold creation, which can be best viewed from Pearl Street, near the Neville Public Museum.
“We certainly know the caliber of his work and we wanted to make this happen in the Broadway District,” said Mary Rhode, On Broadway’s vice president of marketing and communications. “Just off of Hubbard Street, which is such a hub for so many On Broadway events throughout the year, we just knew it was a perfect location.”
So far, the painting has the Brewers’ iconic ball-in-glove logo and the start of the Barrelman mascot in a fishing boat.
“Clearly, it’s a boat in the water fishing,” said Linskens. “I think of listening to games on the radio and so forth, that kind of thing.”
Linskens expects his work to be done by the end of the month, just in time for what fans hope will be a deep run through the playoffs.
“I don’t want to jinx it, but with the way they’re playing, they’re a pretty complete team, so this is as good of a chance as any,” said Brabant.
The Brewers organization says this is an expansion of its mural program, which has seen been on display in different parts of the Milwaukee area.
The team plans to be part of an official unveiling when the mural is complete.