R2-D2, C-3PO, WALL-E among those welcoming drivers to West Lafayette

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Consider it a new robotic welcome sign into the city of West Lafayette, complete with R2-D2 and C-3PO and even WALL-E.

Artists and community members unveiled a large mural project on State Road 43 under the U.S. 52 bridge Thursday afternoon.  

About a dozen volunteers led by Lafayette artists Zach Medler and Pete Brown have spent the last month painting the four concrete supports under the bridge. Brown said they've been out two to three days a week since Oct. 21, even in less than ideal art conditions.

It's part of a mural initiative by the Tippecanoe Arts Federation (TAF) that's been in place since 2008. It was sponsored by TAF and Purdue Federal Credit Union, with the space donated by the Indiana Department of Transportation. TAF officials said the project was about $3,000, which is an amount that hardly covers the costs of materials.

Medler said the robot theme aims to combine the natural beauty of the area with the mechanical and industrial function of the bridge above.

"This is sort of the entrance into West Lafayette off I-65 right now. The more people that drive by, the more that they will see it and they will start to recognize it as sort of the, 'Hi, welcome to West Lafayette,'" Medler said.

Brown said added together, by area, the four murals add up to be one of the largest in the state.

"Just the fact that it's not another set of gray walls in town or gray pylons holding up a building. I hope it inspires them to think differently about public art and where public art can go and should go," Brown added.

The mural also has a a QR code posted to connect people to a link to watch a time lapse video on the creation of the mural. You can click here to watch it for yourself.