MILWAUKEE — Although Mauricio Ramirez has created 13 murals in downtown Milwaukee, he is perhaps best known for painting the giant mural of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo that adorns the side of the 600 East building on Wisconsin Avenue.
That mural has become a cultural landmark of the city and displays one of Milwaukee’s most beloved figures. But for those who have driven through Milwaukee over the past couple of weeks, they may have seen another mural in the works that will honor another Milwaukee and Wisconsin legend.
On the north facade of the Wintrust Financial Center, 731 N. Jefferson St., a mural honoring legendary Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker is currently taking shape.
Ramirez will be using over 168 colors, all in spray cans, on the mural, but he needed someone to take care of the canvas work before he could start filling in the details. So Ramirez contacted Oconomowoc native LaBrant Pikalek.
When Pikalek, owner of LaBrant & Associates in Milwaukee for the past 54 years, got the call from Ramirez to help with the project, he couldn’t believe it.
“I almost fell over,” Pikalek said. “I’ve been in Milwaukee for over 50 years, so I’m pretty well known, and I was just so honored. I can’t even tell you, it was just awesome. To be teamed up with a national elite muralist like this is really something special for my company. I was really honored.”
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Having been at the helm of LaBrant and Associates, a painting company started by his grandfather in 1932, Pikalek has painted almost everything there is to paint, but says this project might be his most special.
“It’s just really good for Milwaukee, and for me personally to be part of something like this is very exciting for my company,” Pikalek said. “Having a big tenure in Milwaukee and going through just decades of work here. … I feel really blessed to be a part of it.”
The mural is expected to be completed by the end of May or early June, and Pikalek says he can’t wait to see it come to life and hopes it will be something that everyone will enjoy.
“I think they’ll be in awe,” Pikalek said. “Like everybody is just shocked when they come to see it.”
The mural will depict Uecker where Brewers fans know him best, at the microphone as the Brewers’ play-by-play announcer. Behind Uecker will be an outline of American Family Field, and above him will read the phrase “Thank you, Ueck.” On the bottom right of the mural will be a baseball with his signature above it and his nickname, “Mr. Baseball,” in quotes below it.
Upon completion of the mural, a tailgate-themed ribbing cutting will be held by project organizers as well as members of the Uecker family and the Brewers.