Nick Keppler Photo

A fresh paint job has Media Wave against a wall

It happened a few weeks ago. Media Wave owner Paul Jordanopoulos repainted the outside of his independent video store's building in downtown Fairfield for aesthetic reasons and unknowingly stirred up the public's sentimental feelings about the huge mural that used to be on the wall adjacent to the overnight drop slot.

The mural emphasized the "Movies and More" slogan of Media Wave — where, full disclosure, this writer is employed — and showcased cartoony paintings of movie characters, like Beetlejuice, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Indiana Jones, Ash from Army of Darkness and the Genie from Aladdin, alongside videogame characters, like Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario. It was painted in August 2003 by Michael Consiglio, a former Fairfield resident and current Hollywood actor.

Jordanopoulos really didn't think people would care if the mural was erased.

He was wrong.

People have been walking into the store wondering where it went and when it would be back. Some aren't even Media Wave customers, just townsfolk that loved seeing the giant green Hulk standing next to Jason from the Friday the 13th series on the side of a building in "classy" downtown Fairfield. After they get their answer, these non-customers usually turn around and walk out the door. They want that mural back now!

And what will become of this now-blank wall on the side of Media Wave?

"We're batting around ideas," Jordanopoulos says. The current plan is to hold some kind of contest, with customers and local residents submitting their ideas for new murals. He says this idea was partially inspired by a Weekly article about positive graffiti artists. "The idea is to start painting once the weather gets better. So you should see something start to go up in the spring."

About the outcry, Jordanopoulos was stunned. "We really had no idea people loved that mural so much!"