Artwork copyright John Wehrle. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright John Wehrle. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright John Wehrle. Photo courtesy of the artist.

As Time Floats By, 2010

John Wehrle
(American, born 1941)

Location: Aylen Junior High, Puyallup

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

As Time Floats By are a suite of five murals by artist John Wehrle. He created them using "trompe l'oeil" visual illusions. This French term translates to "trick of the eye." The murals give the impression that you are looking through a window at a blue sky. Realistic objects seem to float in space, and give a sense of depth and movement to the images.

Check out the grades 3-5 lesson plan for this artwork, linked as a PDF under "Lesson Plans and Documents".

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Puyallup School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Richmond, California-based artist John Wehrle creates work in several mediums. He is best known for his murals and site-specific installations. He states that he “attempts to create artworks that expand beyond the frame, and ideally convey the underlying mystery of the thing viewed.”
Wehrle grew up in Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Texas Tech University, where he was a cartoonist for the student newspaper. Wehrle joined the U.S. Army and was the leader of the first “combat artist” team sent to cover the Vietnam War in 1966. His "war” paintings are in the permanent collection of the National Museum of the United States Army in Virginia. He went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Printmaking at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.