A quick turnaround for a mural seen by millions
Chicago, Illinois
PPD Painting – “The thought of being broadcast live on television added even more motivation.”
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is a beloved tradition in the Windy City.
The Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is a beloved tradition in the Windy City.
The event started in 1934 as a way to lift spirits during the Great Depression. Over the years, what was then known as the Christmas Caravan has evolved into a major holiday celebration for local businesses and civic organizations.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the streets to witness the parade, while millions more watch it at home on TVs across the nation.
Which means PPD Painting’s street art and mural installation would be under a very big spotlight.
“Everyone knew how crucial this mural would be for the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the thought of being broadcast live on television added even more motivation,” said Victoria Flores of PPD.
A crew of 10 painters from PPD covered a 50×440-foot section of State Street in just 10 hours.
The crew swept and cleared the area of debris and prepped the surface, then applied a black base coat using sprayers.
To create the design, PPD used a pounce pattern. This traditional technique involves creating a perforated outline of the design on paper, then dusting chalk powder through the holes – known as “pouncing” – to transfer the design to the surface below.
Once the pattern was set, the team hand painted the design with multiple layers of paint. They used detailed touch ups to get clean lines crisp enough to stand up to HD resolution.
The biggest challenge was the tight timeline and looming threat of rain. With only 10 hours of daylight to complete the project, every minute counted. The rain could have washed away the chalk at any moment as PPD scrambled to get it all painted.
The weather held, and the team’s work looked fantastic on nationwide television. The Moore and Garzon families also came to the parade to celebrate in person.
“There was a constant need for the team to stay focused and efficient,” Flores said. “The fact that we completed the mural on time, without any rain delays, was a huge victory and showed just how dedicated and skilled the team was under pressure.”
Materials Used:
- Sherwin-Williams / A-100 Flat
