From Charles Luden
First branches were cut down to remove shadows. A series of high resolution images were taken to be spliced together later. Measurements were taken so the camera was always the same exact distance from the wall. Mark, Bill’s father-in-law, initiated the saving process.  (Bill, now deceased bought Black Sheep from Todd.)  Bill’s uncle now owns Black Sheep. Paul Heckel who has an ad agency and more did the camera work. His company is named LIT and is on the north east corner of 10th and Main – across from the Carnegie building where the city council meets. Charles Luden shot these photos during the process. I don’t know when Paul will have the finished image completed, but he we will probably print them out at 100% and have the mural recreated.
Eyob Mergia (who know lives in Las Vegas)Â based the mural on the painting Jazz Band ( Dirty Style Blues ) 1944 by Jean Dubuffet 1901-1985 France French.
Eyob and I did this mural by my hot tub called ‘Swimming Ladies’
It is sad to see this piece of art now gone. The battle to started by the city to have it removed because it was a billboard was as usual, wrongheaded.
Similar to what we are learning in the annexation battle, the leaderless ship of Sioux Falls cannot tolerate independent thinking or differences in thought.
Sioux Falls under Metli’s guidance destroyed buildings with interesting designs because they did not fit the “modern clean look” of progress. This mural did not fit the “clean look” so it had to go. Now it is gone. Hopefully the images are pieced back together in a place for all to study and enjoy once again.
I remember when Todd & Eyob came to me and asked what they could do to save the mural. And I asked them “What do you mean? Didn’t you get permission from the building/sign department to paint it?” Of course they didn’t, and I told them that was the first issue. The argument from the city was that it was an ‘advertisement’ because Black Sheep had live music, but as Todd explained to the city, he didn’t make any revenue from the concerts, the artists took a cover at the door. Then the city argued that the live music brings Todd customers. They were really stretching it. I just think they were pissed off because Todd and Eyob didn’t ask permission, so they were butt hurt. The Visual Arts Commission/Council overturned the decision and that is why it stayed up. I told Todd and Eyob, “Next time, ask permission.”
The city is not known for supporting private art. They force on us walls of shame and cold metal sculptures downtown. When there’s real and gifted art, they hide it in one of their many empty buildings (i.e. David).