Evolution of an Idea and the Making of the AMP
Ten years ago, Ellen was painting pictures of Americans
working at various jobs. From these paintings came the
idea of combining the images into a single painting.
Ellen recalls, "I had been with people doing tough,
uncompromising work in copper mines and orange
groves, driving cabs and doing open heart surgery, and
I realized these men and women were heroes to me. I
decided to do a painting - a big painting - paying tribute
to this American energy."

The painting would be called the American Mural
Project. When finished, it will be 120 ft. long and five
stories high. It will be made of a wide variety of
materials, including honeycomb aluminum panels,
fiberglass, ceramic tiles, fabric, marble, and blown glass.