Trunks Bar West Hollywood, located at 8809 Santa Monica Blvd, unveiled a new mural inside the bar by artist Danté Marshall. The unveiling took place during Sunday Funday in the West Hollywood LGBT Rainbow District.
Where are you from originally?
I’m from Pennsylvania originally. I now live and work in West Hollywood. I think it’s been 11 years. I’m an honorary Angelino.
So what are we looking at here?
You’re looking at the results of a conversation between the management and I putting our heads together and wanting to create something that represents the community, represents fun, happiness, joy, color, inclusivity, and a little bit of what we’re going through right now in this country without being too on the nose about, you know, ruining the fun of the piece.
Trunks Bar West Hollywood, located at 8809 Santa Monica Blvd, unveiled a new mural inside the bar by artist Danté Marshall. #wehotimes #wehonews #wehoarts #art #mural #artist #wehonightlifehttps://t.co/dxNWFD01eq pic.twitter.com/InAnksFMN0
— WEHO TIMES (@WEHO_TIMES) July 31, 2023
New Mural at Trunks Bar by Danté Marshall – WEHO TIMESWhat are you calling this art piece?
The title of it is With Liberty and Justice for All. It’s really just bringing home the topics of liberty being a thing for all of us. We have a statue that represents our country and we don’t even stand by it. It seems like we’re letting it slip away. I just want to bring something that reminds people of this concept of liberty and what it actually is a symbol of, and remind them to actually look up the definition.
How did you end up connecting with management to bring us this piece?
Management and I know each other very well because over about a year and a few months ago, they hired me for a bartending job. I was bartending in the bar for a while looking at the wall, walking past it, and chatting with the guys about what they were going to do with it. And you know, I told them I was an artist, but they didn’t really fully know what I was capable.
Danté Marshall – WEHO TIMESWhen did they finally recognize your talents?
I left for an art show in Louisville, and we chatted about maybe doing something together. Then I think with my activity in Louisville, one of the brothers who follows me on Instagram saw my work and when I got back, he was like, we’re waiting for your design. So, I jumped on it. I just got creative and started the mural.
You currently work at Trunks Bar?
Oh yeah. I’m gonna jump in the well at eight o’clock tonight. I’m gonna rip off the plastic of this mural and take off my tank top and start making margaritas.
Are you a muralist overall?
Yeah, pretty much. I finally worked on my craft to the point where whatever I can imagine, I can finally bring it to paper and then put it on a jacket, a leather bag, a mural. Anything that will take paint, essentially, so yeah, I’m pretty much painting whatever I can.
New Mural at Trunks Bar by Danté Marshall – WEHO TIMESWhat do you love most about this new piece?
In this mural specifically, I love how organic it worked out. I started working [at Trunks]. I fell in love with the staff. I fell in love with the management. They fell in love with me. And we just harmoniously work together. They didn’t bring in an artist from somewhere else. They got an artist from literally right in their own drink well to create a piece of art for them. And I love being a part of the family first and then creating something.
This your first piece of work in West Hollywood?
Yes, this is my first public mural in West Hollywood, so the fact that it’s my first mural in West Hollywood and it’s being shown publicly here in Trunks… not only is Trunks a legendary bar, but I feel so connected with everyone in this spot. I feel so connected with every inch of this. So it’s just really special.
New Mural at Trunks Bar by Danté Marshall – WEHO TIMES
New Mural at Trunks Bar by Danté Marshall – WEHO TIMESWhat are your thoughts on the City of West Hollywood?
It’s a beautiful place. I’m from a very small town in Western Pennsylvania. There’s 4000 people and a unicorn was born and I needed somewhere to expand my wings and grow into myself. West Hollywood is the perfect place. There’s so much inspiration everywhere you look. There’s so much freedom. People are pushing the boundaries. People are living outside of the norm and people are outside of the box. I needed somewhere like this with sunshine and the beach to sort of go up and sharpen my art tools. I’m constantly inspired. Everywhere I look every night that I’m working in this bar, it’s like a feast for my eyes. I get to see all the latest fashions, and what everybody’s doing. West Hollywood is just a very cool city.
Do you have anything you want to say to WEHO TIMES readers?
If you guys are out there reading this, come on down to Trunks. Get a drink. Don’t order anything too crazy though, keep it simple. We’d love to have you here and see you. It’s just a really fun bar. The music is going to be great. The crowd is going to be great. The staff is great. It’s all smiles, and love, and great things. So come on down.
How do people find your artwork?
My Instagram handle is my full name @dantemauricemarshall. You can check out my artwork on Squarespace at http://dant-marshall-8n2l.squarespace.com/.
This mural reminds me of a mural that was up on the wall behind the bar on the dance floor at the old Rage circa 1988-1997.Rage renovated the dance floor adding a second floor space which eliminated that old mural.I loved the quirkiness of that mural,so I am glad someone new is carrying on the free-style art common in the past.
Mural is not what I expected for Trunks but maybe that’s a good thing. I didn’t really fully appreciate the scope of this artist’s abilities until I checked out his foursquare account. The splatter art on the leather jackets are very impressive.
Colorful and fun. Congrats.