IT TAKES TWO 1

It Takes Two

Elise Pati

English 102

Friday 9:00-10:15

Mike Phister
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The bus rounds a corner of a tall city block building, and that is when I see it. Sitting high

above the city a set of bears, a set of strobe lights, and two projectors rolling. The wheels screech

as the bus slams to a halt for the dozenth time, and I launch forward into the seat in front of me.

No, the bus did not stop because of the set of bears and strobe lights in front of us. It stopped

because of the lovely morning traffic, and ten minute detour, that is now a daily routine to ASU.

Yes, the set of bears are not real bears with red and blue strobe lights illuminating their figure,

but a magnificent image expanding across the south side of the Heard Building on Central. At a

glance, the image of the picture is somewhat basic in and of itself. There are two bears, two old

fashion projectors, and two lights, red and blue. Yet, if one is to stop and absorb the essence of

the mural it becomes clear that a deeper meaning lies within. This mystery the image holds is

meant to spark a thriving wonder and motivation within the hearts of its audience.

Set about thirty feet above the ground the black and white cameras project two Mexican

grizzly bears another fifty feet above. The bears seem to be not standing on the wall, but floating

together along it; held up by the blue and red lights that magnify their physique. Where the two

lights intersect over the bears, their superficial surface transforms from fur to a shiny rubber

material. The right bear faces forward towards the city, while the left bear back into the wall,

both dropping blue shadows behind them. Such distinct detail is not brought to life without a

purpose. The details are meant to bring to surface the history behind the building. It is clear that

the authors of this work have not simply made a visionary piece of art, but one that holds a

strong pathos to their passion.

Before addressing the pathos of the structure of art, the ethos first needs to be

acknowledged. Ethos has to do with the credibility behind a message or meaning one may
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convey. This can be found behind the identities of the makers, being Nevercrew. Christian

Rebecci and Pablo Togni are a Swiss duo, who travel throughout the world placing murals in

cities(). These murals have varying messages, depending on the location, but one central theme.

This theme being their passion for endangered or extinct species who have been

“Trapped/destroyed by the human attitude”(), which is why they include the Mexican grizzly

bears. Considering the amount of experience they have in this area, along with the depth of

research and way in which they articulate their work, gives proof to the credibility of their

message. Now that the ethos of the piece is better understood, the pathos becomes more clear.

The pathos, or emotion, that Nevercrew desires for the audience to absorb is the power that

technology and communication has in the world around them.

This is why Nevercrew chooses the Heard Building; because of the history of impact that

communication and technology have had inside its walls. The building has hosted numerous

things over the years, ranging from the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho, to the

different news outlets it has hosted over the years, such as Arizona Republic, Phoenix Gazette,

and KTAR. The heart of this building is what inspires the essence of the work for Nevercrew's

vision. This building is where some of the first forms of communication and technology come

together in the city of Phoenix. The artists desire that the combination of technology and “the

role communications play in preserving history”() be remembered in this painting. Throughout

the years Heard Building's purpose has evolved with the age, and Nevercrew paints in old time

cameras specifically to show the history of technology communicating. The bears that the

cameras project onto the wall are Mexican grizzly bears, now extinct, that are the history

technology continues to preserve. The most fascinating part of these bears is where their skin
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transforms from a furry surface to a black rubbery surface. The Nevercrew explained this

significance to “Highlight things that are no longer here,”() a reference to the past. One bear

faces out towards the city, as earlier described, looking towards the future of development and

technology. The other bear faces into the building, looking back into the past and where society,

Phoenix, is coming from.

One detail about the painting that seems less obvious on the surface is the red and

turquoise back drop. Turquoise in art usually symbolizes refreshingly motivating, having

emotional balance, and creativity(). Red, on the other hand, has a common significance in art of

extreme emotion, energy, and primal forces. These two colors hold two contrasting values, but in

this polar opposite way meld together as one. This is an ironic statement, but relates to the logos,

or message, of the piece.

This unity through the two opposing colors express that development requires two

contrasting individuals. The theme is the number two; two bears, two lights, two cameras, and

four main colors divisible by the number two. This number two speaks the logos of the mural.

Nevercrew is using the number two as a direct connection to the theme of technology and

communication. Rebecchi, a Nevercrew member, explains that “It references their artistic

collaboration, the fact that communication requires at least two people, and the idea that different

points of view are important”() to the overall development of society. Since collaboration needs a

bare minimum of two. Phoenix has always been obvious mainstream audience this mural caters

to, but the overall kairos it speaks can be applied to all.

Kairos serves as a timeless reminder for the logos, message, of the mural. The

effectiveness and efficiency which this mural is laid down with will be a timeless message for
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the decades to come. This message being collaboration. This is the coming together of two

individuals, using the resources technology enables them with. They converse on a humane level,

which takes development the next step towards the future. Taking the next steps towards my own

future leaving the bus, no longer with a sense of mechanical dread, but with inspiration for what

lies ahead.

References
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Lynn T. (2018) Phoenix New Times, Here's the Story Behind Nevercrew's Bear Mural in

Phoenix [article]. Retrieved from https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/nevercrew-

bear-mural-downtown-phoenix-10114963

Jennifer B. (2010) Color Meaning: Meaning of The Color Turquoise [article]. Retrieved from

https://www.bourncreative.com/meaning-of-the-color-turquoise/

Jill M. (2018) The Meanings of Red [article]. Retrieved from https://www.colormatters.com/the-

meanings-of-colors/red

Sami W. (2018) Street Art, Nevercrew in Phoenix, Arizona [article]. Retrieved from

http://streetartunitedstates.com/nevercrew-in-phoenix-arizona