Latest Waubonsie mural features older, wiser chief

Murals of Native American warriors began appearing in 1993 in the halls of Aurora’s Waubonsie Valley High School.

With Friday’s dedication of Timm Etters’ 283rd painting and seventh on the Indian Prairie Unit District 204 school’s walls, Warrior athletes now have a high chief watching over them as well.

The latest mural, a 24-by-10-foot piece painted on the gymnasium wall, is a gift from the Warriors Class of 2007 along with some lettering and touch-up work above the bleachers.

The latest piece features an elder, wiser warrior chief who Etters said has “been through the mill a little bit.” Scenes depicted in the mural capture the chief overlooking the campus and reliving great moments in his life while also looking to the future.

“The first Chief I painted in 1993 was the young, muscular man ready to take on the world and there’s been a progression through his life in the series,” Etters said, “And each chief has evolved and aged since the first.”

Assistant Principal Rudy Keller, who spent an afternoon with Etters last summer, calls the latest piece his favorite.

“I think this mural is one of the finest he’s ever done. It’s just fantastic,” Keller said. “It perfectly captures the culture, climate and spirit of being a Waubonsie Warrior.”

Like most of his murals, Etters focused on the work of his airbrush but he experimented with more hand-painting to differentiate this one from his others in the school.

“I don’t turn over a piece if I don’t think it’s the best I can do, so I’m proud of all my work,” he said. “But given the experimenting, I’m really happy with how this one turned out.”

Etters already has begun working on his eighth mural in the school, a secret project, and said he never gets enough of the enjoyment students seem to find in his work.

“Today’s reception was awesome, just awesome,” Etters said. “I can’t even tell you how many times kids approach me and thank me for making their school beautiful. It’s just an awesome feeling.”