As part of a neighborhood improvement program in Hagerstown, MD, a joint government and community task force, called Neighborhood First, commissioned a mural to decorate a railroad underpass. The mural project was titled "Roses for the Wild Mary." Wild Mary was the nickname for the Western Maryland Railroad company who built the underpass 60 years ago. The railroad tracks now go over what has become a main car and truck thoroughfare through the city, and the Western Maryland has become part of CSX Transportation Company.
The task force was faced with a number of problems getting the "gateway" openings painted. First, the artist would be painting the mural by hand brush, because spray paint would have drifted onto vehicles passing through the underpass. Second, the increased time needed to paint by brush eliminated the option to close the street or block off one lane at a time even during non-peak hours. Third, the work had to be done without attaching any equipment or apparatus to the structure itself, as stipulated by the owner, CSX Transportation.
Henri Verdel, lead artist on the project and a veteran muralist with 28 years experience, found the solution. Talking with colleagues and suppliers, he discovered that a JLG Model 450AJ boom lift could meet his needs.
The Model 450AJ addressed every problem encountered. The articulated boom lift made it possible to raise the boom vertically before extending it horizontally so Verdel could stay out of the way of vehicles passing through the underpass, even though he needed to be lifted 16-20 feet above the road''s surface and positioned toward the center of the face of the 42 foot wide underpass. And, its compact design enabled the Model 450AJ to work in tight areas for accessibility over the entire surface.
The Model 450AJ''s 500 pound unrestricted platform capacity let him bring the materials he needed directly to the area where he was working. Additionally, the machine''s 180 degree hydraulic platform rotational capability allowed Verdel to remain parallel with the underpass surface from every angle.
The Model 450AJ''s mobility also played an important part in the project, which involved four different staging areas with varying curb heights surrounded by embankments around the underpass entrance. To reach the level sidewalk area where the boom could be extended, the Model 450AJ climbed over the curb and then continued to climb over the embankment. Also, the Model 450AJ allowed Verdel to drive over the debris that had accumulated over the past 60 years.
Verdel completed the project in about eight weeks and has received many compliments on the project. He said, "The overall impact of the mural starts with the structure -- the architect''s design from over 60 years ago. And like that architect, the engineers and designers at JLG deserve a lot of respect for what they have done. They''ve built a versatile tool that can be an extension of artists'' skills, allowing us to make the impossible possible and create something beautiful. I''ll be seeing the mural whenever I drive through that underpass, and since I''m a perfectionist, I want it to look perfect. We all have pride in our work. I''m just glad I was able to find a product like the JLG Model 450AJ articulating boom lift that allowed me to do the best job I possibly could."