The decision was difficult for both the artist and the man who hired’and ultimately fired’her.
But difficult or not, Jim Sherman Sr., who owns The Clarkston News building in the city’s downtown, said the decision has been made, and it’s final.
On Thursday, Sherman asked artist Michelle Tynan to put down her paint brushes and walk away from the mural she began in 2006 and has worked on during non-winter months since.
She originally estimated the project would take about 12 weeks.
Citing an agreement the two made in May, before Tynan commenced a fourth season of work on the project, Sherman made the decision Thursday, after visiting the site to check on progress.
‘She said she’d complete it before first snowfall,? he said. ‘After looking at it, I decided it really wasn’t possible, and I should just stop it now.?
Controversy over the mural, painted on the formerly-bare 3,000 square-foot wall on the building’s north side, has been the source of recent discord in the community.
But Sherman said the hullabaloo had ‘absolutely nothing? to do with his resolution.
‘I respect their opinions, but no; it had nothing to do with my decision,? he said.
Sherman is The Clarkston News? former publisher; the paper, along with its sister publications, is now run by his children: Jim Sherman Jr., Luan Offer and Susan Speed.
As for his next move, Sherman said he hasn’t given Tynan a deadline to remove her supplies, nor has he decided what’if anything’to do about the unfinished mural.
‘I’ll probably talk to my kids about it,? he said.
Sherman said he had an extensive conversation with Tynan Friday, the day after informing her she was not to continue working on the mural, and noted she was ‘pretty shook up, pretty disappointed.?
He was also quick to point out how he felt about the situation.
‘Bad,? he said. ‘I feel bad for Michelle because she’s put so much work into it.?
But on the other hand, he continued, the clock had just run out.
‘With so much more to do, I just didn’t see that she could possibly get it done by November 1,? he said. ‘She thought she could, and still thinks she could, but I didn’t want it to go into another year.?
Tynan was ‘shocked and devastated? when she heard the news from Sherman, she said, struggling’and almost succeeding’to hold back tears.
‘It really hurts me,? she said. ‘I don’t think he knows how bad it hurts me. I don’t think he has any idea. He told me ‘you’ll bounce back.? I think he thinks I’m really tough.?
Tynan paused a moment and found a reason to laugh a little.
‘Or maybe he just thinks I’m silly.?
But she also said she does, in fact, think she can finish the project before the snow flies, noting work has progressed much more rapidly since she brought in a scissor lift last spring.
And she’s hoping those who support her work will rally. She’s hoping Sherman will change his mind.
‘I like and respect Mr. Sherman,? she said. ‘I don’t think this is easy for him, either, and I’m not trying to say ‘look what he’s doing to me,? because he gave me three years out here, and he’s been so supportive of my work the whole time.?
But she does think he’s making a mistake.
‘I just want to show him ‘Look, see? There are people out there who care about this project, and they like it, and there is good support for it.?
And even after controversy that has compelled kids to throw pop, given grown women the opportunity to hurl insults, and even after The Clarkston News has run every single demeaning letter it received, Tynan can only think of one thing.
‘I still want a shot at the finish line,? she said. ‘All I want is my 8 weeks.?