photography / Troy Boman The controversial portion of a mural dedicated to deceased graffiti artist Wayne Steele depicted a nude women until it was covered up with white paint.

by Tim Gillie

STAFF WRITER

A new mural painted by tag artists on the back of Quality Quick Stop on Broadway Avenue to memorialize a friend has stirred up controversy in the neighborhood.

The mural was painted in memory of Wayne Steele, 26, who passed away unexpectedly on April 22. Jeff Eilerts and a group of Steele's other friends painted the mural, which includes a portrait of Wayne and some of his own artwork.

Brynn Newell and Donna Hainsworth both have backyards that face the new mural. The two neighbors say one of the figures in the mural was of a naked female.

"It is more than I want my 12-year-old son looking at out his bedroom window," Newell said.

Hainsworth called city officials to complain. She was told the city's hands were tied because the mural was protected free speech.

"An answer to the issue would involve a complex analysis of First Ammendment [free speech] issues as well as signage, harmful materials and other laws," said Roger Baker, Tooele City Attorney.

However, the artists appear to have settled the matter without the city's involvement.

"Our intent was to do something in memory of Wayne," said Eilerts, of Tooele. "We did not mean to do anything objectionable, and when I heard there were complaints I asked the person that painted the picture in question to go over and fix it up."

Before the mural could be touched up by the original artists, however, Quick Stop owner Narendra Nakar took action.

"The kids came to me and asked if they could paint a mural in memory of their friend and I said OK", said Nakar. "When I heard some of the neighbors were upset, I covered up the objectionable part with white paint."

The mural now sports a figure with a head, arms, legs, and a white box for a torso.

Eilerts said that the nude was a random figure and not part of an overall theme. It was also not one of the pictures from Steele's sketchbook. Eilerts anticipates that the artist that painted the picture will return and touch up the whited-out figure at some point.

"It probably wasn't the best thing to paint in a public place," said Eilerts.

tgillie@tooeletranscript.com