MURALS IN THE MAKING. In a collaborative effort between Eau Claire's local artists and businesses, a new optical illusion has been brought to life at Steve's Hemp (127 N Barstow St.) downtown. The mural was designed and brought to life by Jaden Flores (JayFlo), a local muralist.

In the North Barstow district of Eau Claire, a new optical illusion art piece has recently been unveiled, transforming an ordinary wall into an immersive canvas. A gradient rainbow now bathes the exterior of Steve's Hemp (127 N Barstow St.), thanks to the innovative artwork of “JayFlo.”

Jaden Flores, the artist behind JayFlo — known for numerous murals throughout the Chippewa Valley, including Silly Serrano Mexican Restaurant's exterior mural — invites passersby to pause and appreciate the unique visual effect with his latest installation.

The strategic placement of the piece, at a prominent crossroads of downtown, ensures maximum visibility and further enhances the area's artistic appeal.

“I wanted (to create) something that looked beautiful to anybody and everybody, (with) elements of color, science, and magic all put together,” Flores said.

Flores said this optical mural — which he has titled both “Mind Bender” or “Galactic Twirl” (all depending on the viewer’s mood) — was in actuality envisioned years prior to its actual installation date.

Flores applies the finishing touches to the optical mural. The muralist hand-mixed each color present in the installation, with a focus on leading the eye from warm to cool tones throughout.

Flores first conceptualized the piece in 2022, with a dream to showcase his decades of expertise in color theory, perspective, value, and large-scale painting. Now, all he needed was a wall to bring the optical illusion to life.

During this brainstorming period, along comes Steve Hampton, owner of Steve’s Hemp, who knew from the very beginning that the side of his storefront was in need of an artistic refresh.

“I've always loved (Jaden’s) style with vibrant colors, animals, and shapes and knew his design would be a perfect fit for our building, and even our brand,” Hampton said.

Over the next several years, Hampton went back-and-forth with the building's current owners, University Area Housing, to get approval of the mural design for alongside the building.

Once approval was secured, he then went on to explore local funding avenues. Hampton applied for and secured the North Barstow Business Improvement District Beautification Grant in February of this year; a newly introduced funding opportunity by Downtown Eau Claire Inc. (DECI).

In July of this year — with funding secured and the visuals prepared — Flores meticulously applied each color of his rainbow gradient to the wall, layer by layer.

He hand-mixed each vibrant color — from greens, bright yellows, and oranges to deep blues and magentas — giving the mural a unique, animated quality that is signature to his artworks.

“I wanted (to create) something that looked beautiful to anybody and everybody, (with) elements of color, science, and magic all put together."

jaden flores

muralist, "JayFlo"

To further enhance the mural's meaning, Flores’ gradients draw the eye towards the building's center, where the spiral's curvature forms a hidden yin-yang symbol.

“I'm super big on trying to find balance in my own life, so I want my pieces to also reflect a lot of balance,” Flores said.

Hampton said he has always been an advocate for public, accessible art — especially when it can possibly benefit a local building, business, or community at large. This new mural is no exception; he hopes the art piece over time will pique the interest of downtown patrons to step inside of his storefront.

“Public art adds character and energy to an area; it helps make an area feel more vibrant and welcoming,” Hampton said. “When art intersects with local businesses, it not only draws more foot traffic but also creates a memorable experience for both residents and visitors.”

Flores hopes that more public art — and collaborations between other area-artists — will drench Eau Claire's walls and cityscape in color, aligning with the Chippewa Valley's existing support for such initiatives.

“When artists get to work together, then they get better and then our murals get better — that's what you want to see happen.”

After three weeks of continuous work, Jaden Flores (pictured above) completed "Galactic Twirl" at the end of July.

See JayFlo’s “Galactic Twirl” in-person at Steve’s Hemp, located at 127 N Barstow St. in downtown Eau Claire. Check out his other mural works-in-progress and artwork online through social media (@jayflo99).