PHOTO OP-ED: Historical drama spreads across a concrete ‘canvas’

Storm seas, a shipwreck and Native Americans braving the waters in their canoe are coming to artistic life in James Barany’s mural on the East Jackson Street retaining wall in Port Washington. The muralist, who teaches at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, is painting the area’s history on the wall in dramatic images, dominated by the sidewheel steamer Niagara that burned and sank in 1856 with a loss of more than 100 lives. More graphic history is on the way—a fair amount of wall remains to be painted. The mural is one of 10 commissioned as part of the Paint on Port project.        Photo by Sam Arendt