Artist: Matteo Miles
Timeline of Textiles to Technology
GJ: How were you contacted to create this piece?
MM: I was contacted by the Hyatt Place Hotel during their stages of development. I was recommended from my work displayed at the Aloft Hotel, which is also located nearby in downtown Greenville.
GJ: What is the inspiration for this piece?
MM: With all the new development happening around Greenville, the community was getting nervous about the preservation of the original iconic landmarks that made Greenville so special in the first place. From the textile mills that produced the materials manufacturing success for the economy to the rivers that shaped it, I wanted to capture the imagery and literally create a visual timeline of the architecture created throughout a century of development in our town. The present-day images I portray are cranes in the sky overlooking a decorated skyline and abundant growth in the city.
GJ: What type of paint did you use to crate the mural?
MM: I used exterior acrylic paint and a UV protectant seal.
GJ: How long did it take to create, and what was the creation process like?
MM: The mural took about seven working days to complete. This was my first exterior mural project, so I definitely learned a lot about the process along the way. The challenge I faced the most was the incline of the hill, as it made it hard to balance on a 25-foot ladder.
GJ: What is your favorite part of the piece and why?
MM: My favorite part of the mural design is the chromatic color transitions from gray scale to sepia tone. I wanted it to feel like the color shifts in “The Wizard of Oz.” With such a detailed mural I was able to hide several Easter eggs in it as well, from the iconic mice to my favorite dog.
GJ: When was it completed?
MM: Spring 2019.
It is located on the Hyatt Place Greenville Downtown hotel at 128 E. Broad St.
