FLIGHT PATTERN
Celebrating the rich, unique history of Westerville
Flight Pattern
This mural celebrates Westerville’s rich, unique history and ties it to the community’s contemporary culture. The eye-catching design attracts viewers to engage with it by using specific text, patterns, and icons. The mural is filled with images of birds, and movement and patterns play a prominent role.
This mural design features three prominent historical figures: Benjamin Hanby, William Henry Fouse, and Agnes Meyer Driscoll.
Benjamin Hanby
On the left side is Benjamin Hanby, a composer and abolitionist who assisted his father in the underground railroad. His portrait is a collage of imagery from his lyrics and actual text from his famous song, “Darling Nelly Gray.” This popular anti-slavery ballad tells the story of Joseph Selby, a runaway slave who passed away at Benjamin’s father’s house after sharing his story of lost love. In addition to the lyrics on Hanby’s face, the song is also referenced in the river, cabin, and red canoe that form Hanby’s bust. Hanby composed over 80 songs in his lifetime; two familiar songs are “Up on the Housetop” and “Who is He in Yonder Stall?”
The triangular design to the right of Hanby represents the “flying geese” quilting pattern. The geese pattern specifically served as a signal to follow the direction of the migrating geese as they traveled north to Canada in the Spring. The meaning of this pattern also refers directly to the inspiration for Darling Nelly Gray, Joseph Selby, who was attempting to reach Canada, where he hoped to earn enough money to purchase his sweetheart’s freedom. The three bird images to the left of Hanby derive from the covers of three songbooks he co-authored called Our Song Birds.
Hanby House is the former home of William and Ann (Miller) Hanby, built-in 1846 at the corner of Grove and Main Streets. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated significant Underground Railroad site by the National Park Service.
William H. Fouse
Near the top center of the mural is William H. Fouse, Otterbein University’s first Black graduate. William Henry Fouse, class of 1893, was a teacher, a principal, a lifelong learner, a musician, and an inspiration to students and educators in his 45 years of work in public education.
The following is a passage about William H. Fouse by Stephen Grinch, archivist at Otterbein University, 2023.
It is reprinted with permission of Otterbein University.
Agnes Meyer Driscoll
On the right side is Agnes Meyer Driscoll, a groundbreaking cryptanalyst for the U.S. Navy from 1918-1949. She was born in 1889, and her childhood home was located at 110 South State Street in Westerville, Ohio, now the Westerville Public Library site. She is known as the first lady of Naval Cryptology, also known as codebreaking. Driscoll attended Westerville schools and Otterbein College from 1907 to 1909 and later graduated from The Ohio State University in 1911.
Known by her colleagues as Madame X, this pseudonym is conveyed on her face, surrounded by code-like patterning. The naval cryptologic symbol is next to Driscoll, and the surrounding energetic patterns symbolize Driscoll’s courageous spirit. Driscoll was a groundbreaker, highly intelligent, and fluent in Japanese, French, German, and Latin.
Driscoll was recruited to work as a civilian in the Navy, which was atypical for a woman of the times. She worked on manual and machine systems, both in the making and breaking of code. She helped develop the Navy’s cipher machine, the “CM.”
Driscoll broke both the Japanese manual Red and Blue Book codes. She also made headway on the Japanese ORANGE machine. According to the National Security Agency (NSA), “she made critical inroads” into Japan’s operational code, JN-25, “which the U.S. Navy exploited after the attack on Pearl Harbor” for the rest of the War in the Pacific. In World War II, she worked on deciphering the Enigma machine until that work was given to the United States and United Kingdom joint efforts. She is recognized as a leading cryptologist and was inducted into the NSA Hall of Fame in 2000.
Emerson School.
The historic Emerson Elementary, formally the Westerville High School, is represented to the right of Fouse, and their two iconic Romanesque round towers add a dynamic element to the mural design. Initially, The Westerville High School - Vine Street School was built in 1896 by the Columbus architecture firm of Yost and Packard. The high school is an example of Romanesque Revival architecture. The building opened publicly during a March 19, 1896 grand ceremony. It is still a magnet elementary school in Westerville City Schools, specializing in world languages and cultures.
Nature Depictions.
The three figures are surrounded by depictions of nature, emphasizing the prominence of the outdoors in Westerville. Trees are abundant in the design, as they are in the area, particularly at Alum Creek State Park. Nicknamed “Tree City USA” and honored as a first class “Tree City of the World” by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the roots of Westerville’s woods run deep. Butterflies and flowers also flow through the design, referencing Westerville’s “Monarch Pledge.” This promise aims to raise awareness and support the fading monarch butterfly population, including building butterfly habitat gardens.
The Style.
A vibrant color palette, mixed with green hues of trees and nature, is featured strongly in the design. Patterns flow throughout the mural, sewing together stories of Westerville’s past with its contemporary community and blending people with their natural surroundings. The mural’s style includes a variety of artistic approaches, including realistic portrayals of the figures, graphic design work, and intricate linear patterning. Weaving together these disparate styles represents the complexity of Westerville’s thriving and ever-evolving community. The design celebrates those who have reached for the stars and those following their example.
The Artist.
Nick Stull is a well-known local artist commissioned for the mural from over 35 applicants. Nick also owns an art & design company called Day Blink Creative LLC, where he produces a variety of large-scale murals, custom painting & portraiture, and branding & design projects. Before Day Blink Creative, Nick was an exhibit designer and installation supervisor at The Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, OH, overseeing numerous exhibitions’ design, layout, and installation.
Nick lives in Columbus, OH, with his wife, Liz, their daughters, Elle & Olli, and their cat and dog, Netflix & Pancho. He enjoys swimming, playing board games, and going on family adventures in his spare time.