The Buzz: What People Are Saying About Wall Together Now
Working with Craig Downs has been an amazing experience. We had several goals in mind for the Paint by Number mural we commissioned him to do in our lobby: tell a story of our company’s history; symbolize our Geek-Tech spirit; reflect our St. Louis roots; and give our employees an opportunity to celebrate, to bond, and to make memories together.
Craig really listened and incorporated everything we wanted to depict in the mural. We had a tight deadline, but everything ran smoothly and on schedule.
On Paint Day, employees came and went throughout the afternoon and into the evening to make their contribution to the mural. Craig was so friendly and gracious with everyone, encouraging them to participate and complimenting their efforts. For the time he was here, he was like family. He even went out of his way to make a paint color “legend” using words and phrases he picked up from paying attention to quirky, significant things about our business and our office environment. It was a special touch.
From start to finish, Craig was reliable, responsive, and receptive. He didn’t just give us a mural. He gave us a great memory.
Joy Vance
Assistant to the General Manager at Asynchrony
St. Louis, Missouri
Craig really listened and incorporated everything we wanted to depict in the mural. We had a tight deadline, but everything ran smoothly and on schedule.
On Paint Day, employees came and went throughout the afternoon and into the evening to make their contribution to the mural. Craig was so friendly and gracious with everyone, encouraging them to participate and complimenting their efforts. For the time he was here, he was like family. He even went out of his way to make a paint color “legend” using words and phrases he picked up from paying attention to quirky, significant things about our business and our office environment. It was a special touch.
From start to finish, Craig was reliable, responsive, and receptive. He didn’t just give us a mural. He gave us a great memory.
Joy Vance
Assistant to the General Manager at Asynchrony
St. Louis, Missouri
I have known Candice for nearly as many years as I have been Director of Entreamigos. Her love of the children and the complexities of human relationships is remarkable and I have often asked her to help guide me in my work in this community.
We have designed many a mural and every time I am struck by the beauty, not just the beautiful final product but the beauty in the multitude of subtle ways a cooperative project like the Paint by Number she is doing with Craig benefits a community or group of people.
At first, everyone gathers together with a clear objective: "We will paint this mural", but then you find yourself challenged by getting your hands dirty, by making a mistake, by the need to reach over or under someone else and into their space. You find yourself laughing, infected with the energy and enthusiasm of Candice and Craig.
You find yourself letting down those barriers of boss and employee and finding a new space of communion and friendship, bringing people together, healing old wounds, creating new and positive memories that last.
And then the mural is painted and it is perfect. Beautiful on the wall and perfectly yours in your memory, and every single time that you pass by, you feel connected and part of something greater. Candice and Craig make this special opportunity an easy gift for any community.
Nicole Swedlow
Director, Entreamigos Community Center
Recipient of the Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award, 2014
San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico
We have designed many a mural and every time I am struck by the beauty, not just the beautiful final product but the beauty in the multitude of subtle ways a cooperative project like the Paint by Number she is doing with Craig benefits a community or group of people.
At first, everyone gathers together with a clear objective: "We will paint this mural", but then you find yourself challenged by getting your hands dirty, by making a mistake, by the need to reach over or under someone else and into their space. You find yourself laughing, infected with the energy and enthusiasm of Candice and Craig.
You find yourself letting down those barriers of boss and employee and finding a new space of communion and friendship, bringing people together, healing old wounds, creating new and positive memories that last.
And then the mural is painted and it is perfect. Beautiful on the wall and perfectly yours in your memory, and every single time that you pass by, you feel connected and part of something greater. Candice and Craig make this special opportunity an easy gift for any community.
Nicole Swedlow
Director, Entreamigos Community Center
Recipient of the Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award, 2014
San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico
We explained extension and our programs to Craig and he captured its essence in a beautiful and compelling design that represents the breadth of our work in the community, and the beauty and diversity of Marion County. He drew the outline on our office wall with numbers, then 35 colleagues, families, and friends gathered and painted by number to bring the mural to life. It was a truly magical and bonding experience for everyone involved, and we cannot thank Craig and Candice enough for, as their mantra states, “bringing us together.” Our office has been transformed. It is now a living and breathing space and the mural tells the story of who we are and what we do. We love our mural.
Mark L. Chien
Office Manager
OSU Marion County Extension
Salem, Oregon
Mark L. Chien
Office Manager
OSU Marion County Extension
Salem, Oregon
I was fortunate enough to meet Craig when he was the featured artist at our location for the Dallas Art & Wine Walk. He mentioned that he has done murals in the past and would like to do one at our location. I loved the idea and set it up.
We worked with the City and other Associations in town and incorporated into the Annual Krazy Dayz event in the City of Dallas. It went over tremendously. Nothing but positive feedback and support. The citizens of the city loved being part of this one-of-a-kind event.
Craig is now working on doing a mural at one of our other offices and I can't wait to work with him and Candice again.
Jason Saunders
Sales Manager
Willamette Valley Fiber
Dallas, Oregon
We worked with the City and other Associations in town and incorporated into the Annual Krazy Dayz event in the City of Dallas. It went over tremendously. Nothing but positive feedback and support. The citizens of the city loved being part of this one-of-a-kind event.
Craig is now working on doing a mural at one of our other offices and I can't wait to work with him and Candice again.
Jason Saunders
Sales Manager
Willamette Valley Fiber
Dallas, Oregon
The Willamette Valley Fiber Paint by Numbers mural was a great addition to the city's Wings Art Mural effort to beautify the city and get Dallas residents engaged in community projects. We were very happy to see so many folks come and leave their mark on a prominent city-owned building in our downtown core. The mural is a fantastic representation of all that is beautiful about Dallas and the fact that it came to life with citizens' help is a wonderful testament to how much people care about this community.
AJ Foscoli
Economic Development Director
City of Dallas, Oregon
AJ Foscoli
Economic Development Director
City of Dallas, Oregon
I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Craig Downs during the 8th Annual Grove Fest in 2013. From the beginning of the process through the completion of the mural, Craig was professional and easy to work with. During the design phase of the mural, he met all requests with aplomb.
The Grove Fest Paint by Number mural is an opportunity for our neighborhood to reach out to the greater metropolitan community and demonstrate the difference that can be made when a dissimilar group of contributors work together.
Craig was aware of our goal to connect people, and created a design which appealed to a diverse group of participants.
On the day of the event, Craig welcomed all participants with the same warm and jovial grace and made all who contributed feel a part of something bigger than their experience.
Craig is insanely talented with a demeanor that welcomes – he is a true people person. We are proud to have a “Downs” as a permanent public installation in the Grove and look forward to the opportunity to work with him again.
Gelinda Connell, Event Coordinator
Grove Fest
St. Louis, Missouri
The Grove Fest Paint by Number mural is an opportunity for our neighborhood to reach out to the greater metropolitan community and demonstrate the difference that can be made when a dissimilar group of contributors work together.
Craig was aware of our goal to connect people, and created a design which appealed to a diverse group of participants.
On the day of the event, Craig welcomed all participants with the same warm and jovial grace and made all who contributed feel a part of something bigger than their experience.
Craig is insanely talented with a demeanor that welcomes – he is a true people person. We are proud to have a “Downs” as a permanent public installation in the Grove and look forward to the opportunity to work with him again.
Gelinda Connell, Event Coordinator
Grove Fest
St. Louis, Missouri
Thank you once again to Wall Together Now for the excellent work and supervision on the “Wanna Paint A Boat?” event. We appreciate your creative, whimsical design and hard work.
You turned a drab blue tug boat into a real focal point that current and future customers will enjoy for years to come. The endless smiles of our customers, friends and family as they “painted by number” showed how much fun young and old can have while being childlike.
I really enjoyed seeing multiple generations of families painting and posing together to have their picture taken in front of their creation.
We continue to have customers tell us how much fun they had and that they would like to do it again. Your idea to do a time lapse video was also a real hit. Everyone loves being able to go back and relive the fun.
Gene Coon
St. Louis, Missouri
You turned a drab blue tug boat into a real focal point that current and future customers will enjoy for years to come. The endless smiles of our customers, friends and family as they “painted by number” showed how much fun young and old can have while being childlike.
I really enjoyed seeing multiple generations of families painting and posing together to have their picture taken in front of their creation.
We continue to have customers tell us how much fun they had and that they would like to do it again. Your idea to do a time lapse video was also a real hit. Everyone loves being able to go back and relive the fun.
Gene Coon
St. Louis, Missouri
The great thing about the Paint by Number Mural Project in San Pancho was the opportunity to work together with Craig and Candice and the whole community in order to produce something creative and beautiful. Most of us were not artists, but we were able to strive together towards a common goal. A very rewarding morning well spent.
Lander and Gretchen Carter
San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico
Lander and Gretchen Carter
San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico
My wife Cele and I helped to paint the soccer field shower rooms, Candice and Craig's early Christmas present to San Pancho. For Cele and me, it was special fun because she could paint her seahorse while seated in her wheelchair.
The other artists were the Mexican children from the pueblo, expats and their tousled-hair kids, Mexican moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas. Young and old, those with challenges, visitors and guests, it was a level playing field for everyone! And thanks to Craig’s Paint by Number guidelines, everyone was equally talented! Now every time I pass that building mural I remember what a fun day it was for Cele and me. I’ll bet lots of others get the same feeling. Thanks! Curt Hahn San Francisco, Nayarit, Mexico |
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When I was invited by Candice and Craig to participate in a Paint by Number project I had no idea that I would rediscover so much joy inside of myself. At first, we got to witness the local children coming in droves to participate in painting the changing rooms at the local soccer field. When the children finished the lower level of the project, the adults went to work completing the upper parts of the building. Overall it was such a fulfilling experience that I would recommend it for anyone who wants to reconnect with the child within.
Hank Fieger
Hank Fieger Associates
Hank Fieger
Hank Fieger Associates
