Arms of Mine

Artist

Rough Edge Collective

Location

31 Hanover Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17104

Completed by the husband-and-wife team Joshua Lawyer and Maria-Jose (MJ) Lindo-Lawyer, this bright portrait of a woman was drawn in the image of a friend of the couple’s. 

The piece’s title comes from the song by American rhythm and blues artist Otis Redding, “These Arms of Mine.” A song about yearning for love.

“A song that we consider one of the greatest songs in history,” MJ says, adding that their goal was to create a piece of art that can evoke the same feelings that a love song does. 

“Specifically, for someone in the early stages of a relationship,” the artist adds. “It’s our attempt to create a piece of art that can connect with a human being in that stage of a relationship and give them a sense of hope for the future, a sense of excitement, and the ability to connect with art on a visceral level.”

Due to a heatwave that kept the average temperatures in the 90s the week of the mural’s installation, and the wall’s location in full midday sun, the artists would begin painting at dawn and wrap for the day around lunchtime. 

They say their intention with the work was “to be very painterly.” 

“The closer you get the more you see each brushstroke,” says MJ, “and the further you get, the more the piece feels homogenous.”

Photography by Landon Wise.

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