New quilt mural unveiled during Paducah Quilt Week a re-creation of denim textile work by Ian Berry

Mural painted by Paducah School of Art & Design associate professor Tanya Neitzke

Paducah, KY (04/27/2025) — For the last two years a mural project has been in process in the upstairs hallway of the Paducah School of Art & Design 2-D building in Lower Town. This week the completed mural was relocated to its permanent location on the floodwall facing the Paducah Convention Center.

In an unveiling ceremony during Paducah's "Quilt Week" Tanya Neitzke, Associate Professor of Painting and First Year Experience at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, was recognized for her work in painting the mural.

Neitzke was commissioned by the Quilt City USA Murals committee to paint the newest Quilt Mural on the floodwall, titled "The Cheyenne Has Gone" -a re-creation of a 2012 denim-on-denim textile piece of the same name by British fiber artist Ian Berry.

Because Neitzke was going to need a large wall area to work on (the mural is 16' x 8') and a year-round environment, she requested permission to use the PSAD space, seeing it also as an opportunity to educate students on her process and technique, and to engage them in watching a multi-step, time-intensive artwork develop.

The product used for the painting surface of the mural - called Pellon - is a non-woven stabilizing material used in quilting and decorative stitch work. By being able to attach the Pellon to the hallway wall inside PSAD Neitzke had a workspace to create the artwork without concern for weather conditions, and with access to lighting and her tools.

At the mural dedication Neitzke thanked Berry for his permission and inspiration, and for "letting me step into your denim world" While Berry was not at the event, Neitzke spoke of her appreciation for him. "It was a gift to live inside your world for a while, and to share it with others," she said. "Being able to merge my own voice with his message was both a challenge and a joy. It allowed me to try something new and ultimately share this compelling work with our community.

Neitzke thanked her husband, family, grandmother, students and colleagues for supporting her through the long days and nights of working on the project. She also thanked WKCTC President Anton Reece for "believing in this project" and allowing her to use space at the Paducah School of Art & Design to work on the mural. In addition, she recognized artist Char Downs and Gayle Kaler, former Mayor and Chair of Paducah Quilt Murals Inc, and the Quilt City USA Mural committee for their dedication to the project and offering advice and support.

Brothers Jim and Tom DeCillis were the sponsors of the mural. "Thank you to the Quilt Mural board for approving the selection we made," said Jim in his remarks. "It was one that just spoke to us when we saw it. We love nostalgia and we were thrilled that it was selected and it's an honor to be sponsors.

"Our apologies to Tanya for selecting a really complicated project, but she did a phenomenal job and our hats go off to her," he added.

Neitzke encouraged visitors to see the mural. "No matter what kind of day you're having I hope you can stop by this mural, step into the cafe scene, and take a load off. Enjoy the world of denim created by Ian Berry, now re-imagined in paint."

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