Help Blue Sky restore TUNNELVISION in Columbia SC

Dear friends and supporters,

I am writing this on behalf of Blue Sky, the renowned painter and muralist from Columbia, SC. Blue is 84 years old, and he has been painting professionally since the 50s, making his living exclusively on fine art sales since 1971. His works of public art have inspired and captivated people all over the world. His most famous mural, "TUNNELVISION," is a local landmark that he completed in 1975 after a year of intense labor. The theme of the mural is "resurrection," and it has long served as a symbol of hope and rebirth for locals and tourists alike.

Tunnelvision is a significant piece of public art that was featured in People magazine at the time of its unveiling and celebrated internationally. It was among the first murals in the world to bring fine art outside of the museum and into the city streets at an unprecedented scale. It is an iconic part of our city's landscape and an important reminder of the power of art to transform our lives. Blue has personally financed the maintenance and restoration of Tunnelvision for decades, but the cost of materials has risen dramatically, and we need your help to ensure that the mural is preserved for future generations.

Over the course of his career, Blue has created more than seven major works of public art for the city, free of charge. Blue has decided to restore the mural simply because the work needs to be done, and he's doing it with his own time and money.

We have created this GoFundMe page to raise funds for the restoration of Tunnelvision. Your contributions will go directly towards supporting the artist and purchasing materials needed to restore the mural to its former glory. We estimate that the total cost of the restoration will be $10,000, and every little bit helps. We are extremely grateful to Hood Construction, who have already been kind enough to lend Blue a cherry-picker scaffold to use for the restoration.

Blue has dedicated his life to creating beautiful works of art that inspire and connect people from all walks of life. His contributions to the world of art have been immense, and he deserves our utmost respect and admiration. It would mean the world to him if we could all come together to support this important project and preserve this beloved piece of public art.

We believe that public art is a vital part of our communities. It brings people together, creates a sense of place and identity, and stimulates creativity and imagination. Please consider donating and sharing this story with your friends to help us preserve this important piece of public art and honor Blue's artistic legacy.

Thank you for your support,

Lynn Sky

"Lead us from the unreal to the real. Lead us from darkness to light. Lead us from death to immortality." (Poem from the original mural)