After five months of labor on two murals in Union South, a Madison artist must leave his work unfinished, as the future of the building is uncertain.
UW-Madison alumnus Philip Salamone was hired by the Union to paint two murals on opposite walls in the bowling alley of Union South.
After completing the first mural on movable panels, he was told he would not have the chance to paint the second.
'I had the drawing pretty much done,' Salamone said of his second mural. 'I was waiting on the panels ,and they decided they didn't want it anymore.'
According to Salamone, the Union funded his first mural. His second mural was set to be funded by a private donor, but the Union decided not to accept the private donation.
Bob Wright, recreation services manager at the Union, said the donation was turned down because of doubts surrounding the future of Union South.
'There have been serious discussions about what to do about this building, either revamping it or tearing it down,' Wright said.
He said the Union could not allow the mural to be painted until the future of Union South is resolved.
'Uncertainty about the future of Union South is what it basically boils down to,' Wright said, 'combined with the Union's fear that they could not commit to either properly storing or displaying the mural at a later date.'
'I was pretty torn apart three weeks ago because I invested so much into it,' Salamone said. He said the planned mural depicted a 'retro-style bowling alley' scene with a lot of Wisconsin themes and connections.
While he is disappointed, Salamone says he is optimistic the mural will eventually materialize.
'I think it's going to work out,' Salamone said. 'I'm trying to find a non-profit organization that would accept the donation and then I could do it for that organization and then we could donate that to the Union.'
The Union has not eliminated the possibility of Salamone finishing his mural in the future.
'We have discussed the possibility of bringing [Salamone] in to do either this mural or to do another mural at some point in the future,' Wright said. '[Salamone] is an outstanding artist and the panels he has done so far on this mural are just incredible.'
According to Wright, a referendum planned for the spring will decide the funding for Union South's improvement plan. Until the building's future is determined, Salamone's mural must be put on hold. Meanwhile, Salamone remains determined to make the mural happen.
'It's going to happen,' Salamone said. 'I want to make Madison proud of me.'
