Clearwater concert hall to unveil mural for its 25th anniversary

Christopher M. Still's mural has a lot to say about Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Dubbed "An Evening to Remember," the 7-by-14-foot work celebrating the Clearwater concert hall's 25th anniversary shows a cutaway of a full house as seen from behind the performers on stage.

"The audience is the center focus of the hall," the Tarpon Springs artist said.

The audience comprises 1,200 faces, with likenesses of the founders and patrons including Jack and Ruth Eckerd, employees, historical figures and community members.

"If you went to Ruth Eckerd Hall in the past two years, there's a possibility you're in the painting," said Still, who placed himself in the mural.

In planning the work, Still went to Europe to study paintings of theaters done by the old masters, made studies during performances at the hall and invited 500 founders and patrons to the theater for a night of posing.

"I asked them to sit and clap, whisper, kiss, get up to go out - whatever people do at the theater," said Still, who wouldn't disclose his fee for the project.

Originally slated to be finished by October 2008, the project ended up taking two years. The 38 oil studies Still completed during that time will be displayed during the public unveiling of the mural Sunday.

It was all those individual faces that proved the most time-consuming.

Although Still's original idea didn't include any likenesses, he changed his mind after seeing that many of the names on the donor wall at Ruth Eckerd Hall also showed up on other donor walls in the area.

"I decided I wanted to give a tribute to these donors in a landmark, long-lasting way," he said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Public unveiling of the mural "An Evening to Remember"

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, with a presentation by artist Christopher M. Still at noon

WHERE: Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater

TICKETS: Admission is free; no reservations required