Generator theft stalls Everett mural project, but not for long

EVERETT — When a thief upended a mural project at the South Everett/Mukilteo Boys & Girls Club, community members rallied around the local artist in a big way.

Megan McDermott has been planning the mural for months, but had only just started painting around April 11. Last Friday, she left the club for a few days to work on other projects. McDermott also left a small generator outside, chained and padlocked to her rented metal scaffolding.

McDermott uses the generator to power her paint sprayer equipment. There are no electrical outlets outside the building — a former school bus garage. She doesn’t like to run a cord with the door propped open when the kids are there, and sometimes she works when the building is locked and closed.

When she came back Saturday, someone had cut the thick chain and stolen the generator. McDermott felt depressed and perplexed.

“Why would someone do this at a Boys & Girls Club? I can’t understand why this happened,” she said.

A few hours later she started an online fundraiser to replace the generator that she had borrowed from a friend. The community rallied around her, raising $620 as of Thursday — more than the $500 she requested.

McDermott said it felt “unbelievable” to see friends and strangers contribute so quickly.

“When something horrible happens, it’s really encouraging for me,” she said.

The Rotary Club of South Everett-Mukilteo donated the money for the mural project, and other “beautification” projects at the site, said Bill Kinney, director of South Everett/Mukilteo Boys & Girls Club. He said he “felt terrible” when he learned McDermott’s generator had been stolen.

“We haven’t had problems with theft here before,” he said.

The mural is on the rear wall of the building, not visible from the street, but very visible as one side of the “kids only” outside play area. It’s a big improvement over the current tan aluminum siding.

McDermott said the mural is meant to be something “cheerful for the kids to look at.” The panels from left to right show a progression of grass and shrubs to trees, which represent growth. She added big monarch butterflies for joy and good luck, adding that her artistic style in general is bright and colorful.

As she painted white dots on the monarch wings, McDermott said, “I think about who I’m making art for and why. Art is a really protective factor for kids. It was for me.”

Joy Borkholder: 425-339-3430; joy.borkholder@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jlbinvestigates.