Pete Hodapp created this mural on the WDRT 91.9 FM community radio station in downtown Viroqua. Painted on a tall brick wall, the piece was shaped much by the building itself. Rather than telling a specific story, Hodapp responded to the scale and visibility of the space, choosing an image that could rise with it and stand out in everyday life.

My connection to WDRT goes back to its earliest days, when the station operated out of a small closet near my studio. I watched it grow from that improvised setup into a full-fledged community radio station with its own building and a strong presence in town. Being invited to paint on the station's wall felt like a continuation of that shared history. With complete freedom to respond to such a tall visible surface, the image of an astronaut emerged. The figure just worked, simple, familiar, and naturally suited to the scale of the building.

The astronaut floats upwards across the wall, suspended mid-motion. The objects around the astronaut aren’t meant to point to a single meaning. They exist for balance, contrast, and visual interest. I like leaving space for viewers to decide what they see, or simply to enjoy the image as it is.

One of the biggest challenges wasn’t the design, but the wall itself. The brick was extremely porous and uneven, requiring extensive preparation before painting could begin. Layer after layer of paint went down just to create a workable surface. It was very time-consuming, but necessary, and it shaped how the mural ultimately came together.

I wanted the colors and forms to read clearly and feel slightly surreal, especially in such a busy location where people encounter the mural while driving, walking, or waiting at the light. If it becomes a moment of pause or a familiar landmark in your day, then it’s doing what I hoped it would do.

Step further into my work, including murals, storyboards, illustrations, and more, at petehodapp.com.