Mike Wirth, Elizabeth Palmisano & Brett Toukatly

Mike Wirth’s latest installation seamlessly combines a vibrant mural that delves into the exploration of Jewish ancestry. While some of Wirth’s murals embrace figurative representations, drawing inspiration from iconic pop culture symbols of his youth, others adopt a more abstract approach, delving into the fusion of art and technology. This artistic direction stems from Wirth’s professional design work in educational media, specifically with infographic design and data visualization.

Entitled “Etz Ayn Sof” (Tree of Oneness), the centerpiece of the installation features an acacia tree, a sacred wood historically employed in the construction of the ancient Jewish tabernacle. Within the tree canopy are four stylized portraits of influential women in Jewish stories throughout history and narrative. In the top left corner, Rachav of Jericho takes her place, while the bottom left corner is adorned by Minna of Speyer. Positioned in the top right corner is Miriam of the Israelites, and completing the quartet, Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi of Spain graces the bottom right corner. The all-seeing eyes within the mural serve as nazar, symbolizing protection against the evil eye. Wirth takes inspiration from 19th and 20th-century Jewish art and poster design.

As a founding member of the Talking Walls Mural Festival, Mike Wirth actively contributes to the promotion of street art and murals in the vibrant city of Charlotte. Additionally, he serves as an Artist-in-residence with the Stan Greenspon Center for Holocaust and Social Justice Education.

Bottom right: Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi of Spain

The eyes are nazar (evil eye).

Wirth is a founding member of the Southern Tiger Collective, a group of artists dedicated to promoting street art and murals in the Charlotte area. He is also involved with Talking Walls, now entering its second year, which is a citywide public art & mural festival bringing together artists with diverse styles and backgrounds.