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On the Road Again
ASK THE

artsperts www.HarmonMeek.com

599 NINTH STREET, NORTH, SUITE 309 | NAPLES, FL 34102 | 239.261.2637
by Kristine Meek and Juliana Meek

Dear Artsperts,
As a longtime reader, I know you typically visit your artists in The actual mural in Yonkers is at risk, unfortunately, due to
their studios in September and return with not only works for construction. However, it is so well loved by the local community
the season, but a story to share. Do you have an interesting story that the city has promised it would recreate the Richard Haas
this year? murals of Yonkers elsewhere downtown.
Signed, Of local note, several decades ago a savings and loan bank in
Road Trippin’ Naples commissioned Haas to create a mosaic mural of Naples to

be installed inside the bank lobby. The mural was created in Italy
Dear Trippin’, using glass mosaic tiles. As with most savings and loan banks of
that era, this one in Naples also did not last long and the mural was
As is the case most years, we do have an interesting story.
never installed. It was subsequently donated to the City of Naples,
This is a long road trip that typically takes about two weeks to
which placed it in storage.
visit our artists with studios as far north as Maine. This being a
Several years passed before the city decided to install the mosaic
business trip means we stay mostly at Hampton Inn hotels. The
mural. Upon opening the storage unit, they were surprised to
artwork in hotels such as these typically is nothing to write home
encounter several piles of glass mosaic tiles. The mosaic was no
about, except when we stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites at
longer intact as a mural. It turned out that the glue holding the
Yonkers-Westchester. To our complete surprise in each room was
mosaic tiles together was honey based. This is southwest Florida,
a reproduction photograph of a mural of Yonkers by Richard Haas,
and a honey based glue is far too tempting to all the insects and
whom we have represented for many years.
critters that must have found their way into the storage unit for
Richard Haas has created several large scale murals on buildings
quite the feast! The original maquette of the mural still survives
in many cities including New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago,
though.
and Miami, just to name a few. He has a distinct style based on his
In addition to his murals, Richard Haas is highly regarded
roots in architecture. He often loves to create optical illusions and
for his paintings, which are shown with Harmon-Meek Gallery.
“fool the eye” images with his murals. When we encountered the
Sincerely,
photo of the Yonkers mural in our rooms at the Hampton Inn,
we quickly texted Richard Haas with our excitement. He was The Artsperts
equally pleased that a photo of his mural was in each room
for guests to enjoy.

Photo reproduction of the Yonkers mural by Richard Haas Maquette of the Naples Mosaic Mural
in a guest room at the Hampton Inn and Suites at Yonkers-Westchester. by Richard Haas,
mixed media on paper, 26”x26”

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