CJ Hungerman of Chicago paints around the taped-off border of his great horned owl mural, which when done will showcase a Rock County native bird. He will spend the weekend completing the mural in Bird Alley, behind 113 W. Milwaukee St., in downtown Janesville, as part of the Art Infusion festival that runs through Sunday.
JANESVILLE — CJ Hungerman dipped his roller into a bucket of white paint on Thursday, and spread it over a prepared brick wall in what’s come to be known in downtown Janesville as “Bird Alley.â€
The thick layer of primer was a quiet beginning to a mural that will soon reveal the bold portrait of a great horned owl, its watchful eyes overlooking downtown Janesville in shades of black and white.
On the day before the kickoff Friday of Art Infusion, downtown Janesville’s annual celebration of public art, Hungerman was one of two muralists from Chicago already working to transform the city’s urban walls. They will spend the weekend finishing their murals.
Art Infusion, happening through Sunday, is sponsored by the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. In addition to the new murals, it will feature chalk artists, exhibits, gallery tours, live dance and a maker’s market and creator’s space.
A live chalk art competition will run from 9 a.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday at Firehouse Park, 113 N. Main St., and BMO Bank, 100 N. Main St.
Many events are free, while some are ticketed. A full schedule and other information is at .
Nature-inspired murals
Hungerman and Matthew Mederer, also known as CoolDiscoRich, will spend the next few days painting large-scale murals on historic downtown buildings, contributing new works alongside existing murals and helping to grow Janesville’s public art scene.
Inspired by local nature, their murals are set to be completed by the end of the weekend. Each mural was created in collaboration with the Art Infusion Committee to ensure it reflects the spirit of Janesville.
Bird Alley
A mural by Matthew Mederer, a.k.a. CoolDiscoRich, begins to take shape on the north wall of 314 W. Milwaukee St. on Thursday. It features a woman sitting on a window surrounded by butterflies. Mederer is painting the mural as part of Art Infusion, an annual downtown Janesville art festival that runs Friday through Sunday.
Hungerman’s mural, located on the south wall of 113 W. Milwaukee St., is his second in Bird Alley, adjacent to his 2023 Art Infusion piece, “Fowl Wall.â€
“Since it’s Bird Alley, we kept the theme of birds,†Hungerman said as he worked on Thursday. “I researched indigenous species in Rock County and found the great horned owl to be appropriate for the area.â€
After losing a teaching job in an economic downturn, Hungerman worked various jobs while trying to re-enter the art scene. His first mural was completed in 2015 at the Chicago Public Library’s Chinatown branch.
“I was blown away that I got it because I’m not Chinese,†he said. “It was luck that they gave me a chance when I had no experience.†He has been involved in public art ever since.
Weather conditions often pose challenges for outdoor muralists, Hungerman said.
Rain was threatening to disrupt his plans on Thursday, forcing him to complete the primer before taking a break.
“I’m hurrying right now, but look at the sun. It’s shining but it’s lying to me,†he laughed. “I know the rain is coming. Wind is also the worst, especially when you’re using spray paint and it starts sticking to your eyelids.â€
He said he is using a combination of spray paint and hand paint for the owl mural.
Hungerman is enthusiastic about contributing to Janesville’s art scene.
“I’m a big cheerleader for this town,†he said. “This is one of the coolest places to go to. I tell everybody about it. I’m like, ‘You gotta stop in Janesville.’â€
“You just hope that your art brings joy and happiness to the community. Public art involves everybody, which is awesome. Whether people like it or not, it makes them think about art and brightens up the space.â€
Trompe l’oeil magic
Mederer, meanwhile, was hard at work a few blocks away.
To complement the butterfly mural on the north wall of 314 W. Milwaukee St., Mederer chose to paint a woman sitting on a windowsill with butterflies.
CJ Hungerman of Chicago primes the brick wall canvas of his great horned owl mural, which when done will showcase a Rock County native bird. He will spend the weekend completing the mural in Bird Alley, behind 113 W. Milwaukee St., in downtown Janesville, as part of the Art Infusion festival that runs through Sunday.
“My favorite style is trompe l’oeil, which creates a 3D effect and gives the illusion of something protruding from the wall,†Mederer said. “It’s like a magic trick.â€
Incorporating butterflies with this technique, he also aligns his work with the Art Infusion Committee’s vision while adding his unique touch.
“I usually draw inspiration from my surroundings, but with this mural being just a large rectangle, I thought of a window,†Mederer said.
Before moving to Chicago and transitioning to mural painting, Mederer spent about 20 years as a graffiti artist in New Jersey. There, he met renowned graffiti artist Flash, who offered him a wall to paint. Although Mederer initially continued with graffiti, he shifted to mural painting in 2017 and has since participated in global public art events and festivals.
“It just wasn’t in me to continue with graffiti,†he reflected, looking back. “After creating a hyper-realistic mural of a nuclear explosion [in 2017], I realized ‘this is it’ and I’ve never looked back.â€
Mederer noted that while graffiti involves significant muscle memory, mural painting is more challenging as it requires creating new and different designs each time.
“Once you master graffiti, it’s almost automatic, like calligraphy or neat handwriting,†he said. “Mural painting is harder because you’re always striving for something fresh.â€
For this Art Infusion mural, Mederer initially considered a computer screen but ultimately opted for a more natural theme.
He said he is excited to be part of Janesville’s growing art community and admires its public art collection, and hopes his mural will bring joy and wonder to the Janesville community.
“I aimed for beauty and simplicity to complement the existing mural,†Mederer said. “My goal was to create something vibrant and engaging, like a piece that feels almost alive.â€