A Muralist in Our Midst
Our very own Mr. Sechrist has painted a mural in the neighborhood, permanently installed at Lexington Pizza Parlour, one of two restaurants owned by St. Bernard’s parent, Charles D. Mr. Sechrist is an art teacher in his 29th year at St. B’s.
Before Mr. Sechrist worked his magic, there was a chalkboard menu above the pizza counter. Charles wanted to have the flexibility to change the menu when needed, but he also wanted to find a way to incorporate artwork into his restaurant. A trained painter himself, Charles has a deep appreciation for art. Charles was familiar with the imaginative sets that Mr. Sechrist creates for class plays and thought he would be the perfect person to approach about painting a mural in his restaurant.
Mr. Sechrist painted the mural last June. He made sure to leave a section of the wall exposed as a chalkboard for the changing menu. The remaining available area was covered with a street scene, inspired by older buildings in the immediate neighborhood. It was a misty day the first time Mr. Sechrist visited the restaurant. There was a romantic, moody feeling in the air, and he noticed a shadow of the bridge nestled between two buildings. Using French greys, white, and black, he began painting away. He tinted the scene with some browns to add warmth and worked very hard to create the illusion of everything receding away. The streets were intentionally left empty—no cars, people, or clutter—enhancing the mood of the scene. He also wanted the Lexington Parlour sign to stand out prominently. When looking closely, one can see a shadow that the sign casts on the street scene below.
Since painting the mural, Mr. Sechrist has become one of Lexington Pizza Parlour’s devoted regulars. Mr. Sechrist was delighted to discover a full Italian menu in addition to brick oven pizzas and raves about the Roman Artichokes. Charles refers to this restaurant as a culinary speakeasy hidden behind the slices. Lexington Pizza Parlour opened its doors in January 2015. Shortly after opening, Charles sent out an announcement to St. B’s community and was humbled by the overwhelming response. During winter months, which are usually slow, Lexington Pizza Parlour was busy with birthday parties, mothers’ luncheons, post-game business, and family dinners, many of which could be traced back to someone connected to St. B’s community.
It is amazing that a simple story about a painting can transform into a story about a community coming together in support. It seems to be the St. B’s way.
