Shooting Star

Shooting Star Mark Adamany expands the definition of a mural. Mark J. Adamany

I often say that there’s nothing more important than repeat business — you never know when a job may yield long-term work. Thus, I address every job with the intent to enticing the client to come back.

Such was the case with Prairie du Chien, WI-based Star Cinemas. Four years ago, the company hired me to paint more than 3,000 sq. ft. of "Moroccan-style" murals for its Wisconsin Dells location.

In the summer of 2002, Star Cinemas told me they would be erecting a 16-screen complex in Council Bluffs, IA, a rapidly growing city on the banks of the Missouri River, and wanted me to create a mural for it.

To complement Council Bluffs’ new convention center and casinos, the cinema needed to be a landmark. As a fan of extravagant Las Vegas murals, I relished the chance to create on a grand scale.

Having received the exterior rendering, I needed two seconds to conjure a theme. The plans outlined a 60-ft.-diameter dome, which spurred the idea of an Egyptian temple. The support columns lining the dome’s perimeter created the flavor of the Temple of Amen-Re in Karnak, Egypt. I decided to push the envelope with elements that hinted at various movie genres.

Researching

I devoted a month to researching ancient Egyptian civilizations and movie history. I developed the layout using PhotoShop