Mural at the Daily Bar and Grill Nears Completion

Artist Ruby Barnes is facing her biggest challenge in 10 years of painting murals. Her mission: to cover the wall outside the Daily Bar and Grill. 

The mural is the largest she’s ever painted at 14 feet tall and 45 feet wide.

And while the artist thought she’d have to brave extreme heat for her first outdoor project, quite the opposite has happened. Several rainfalls caused paint to run all over the restaurant’s patio.

The clean-up, combined with a faulty lift has delayed completion. Barnes started on the project July 24 and as of Tuesday, was about three-fourths of the way done. Despite the delay, she hopes to finish by the weekend.

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Daily owners Greg Lamacki and Steve Soble had the idea of putting a mural on the space to deter graffiti artists. The nearby Niedersachsen Club was only too glad to give permission for their blank wall.

Barnes said the owners wanted a theme that reflected the art deco inside of The Daily. That proved more difficult to do, since the wall has such a textured finish.

Instead, the artist chose a movement from the same era, turning to Picasso’s collages for inspiration.

"To me, it's kind of a collaboration with Picasso—it's a new one for me to collaborate with a dead artist," she said.

The painting is Barnes’ first project in Lincoln Square since starting her mural and graphic design business, Artistry Design.