"Smiley," the circa-2014 smiley face painted on Barbara and Mike McNulty's two-car garage overlooking Lockwood Park in Racine, has begun modeling a properly-worn cloth face mask to encourage mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
RACINE — Since 2014, “Smiley” has brightened the hearts of northbound Ohio Street motorists and outdoor recreation enthusiasts at Lockwood Park in Racine.
Now, Smiley has joined in the fight against COVID-19, recently donning a colorful mask to set a neighborly example.
Smiley, a black-and-white smiley face painted by Westway Avenue residents Barbara and Michael McNulty on the back of their two-car garage six years ago, earned its 15 minutes of national fame after a July 31, 2017 Journal Times report was picked up by the Associated Press, leading to Smiley getting ink as far afield as Indianapolis, Seattle and Tallahassee, Fla.
Barbara McNulty, who has made more than 800 all-cotton masks since the February-March Wisconsin arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, recently decided Smiley needed a mask, too.
Barbara and Mike McNulty of Racine are shown in 2017 with the smile-cracking smiley face they painted on the back of their garage overlooking James E. Lockwood Park at Ohio Street and Graceland Boulevard.
“I came home the other day and said ‘let’s put a mask on Smiley’ to inspire people to wear their masks, too,” said Barbara, a veteran Realtor. “Smiley has his mask on the proper way, with the mask covering his nose and his mouth, with the peak where his nose would be.
“I see people with their masks on the wrong way all the time. You’ve gotta wear those masks the right way. I’m hoping it will inspire people to wear their masks more.”
Smiley has received kudos for stepping out in COVID-fighting style.
“It’s gotten a lot of smiles,” Barbara said. “A lot of people are saying it’s a real positive thing. One person said that they wished all the garages had smiley faces with masks on all the garages to encourage people to wear them.”
The mask on Smiley, Barbara said, is an extension of her embrace of mask-wearing.
“I know that there are some people that resist wearing them,” she said. “I wear my mask because I want people to feel safe around me, but, you know, it goes both ways. If both of us are wearing masks, it’s a lot healthier.”
Although Smiley’s namesake smile has been covered, Barbara says the smile shows through, albeit now shining through Smiley’s wide, bright eyes.
“I wanted to inspire everybody to smile,” McNulty said of the original inspiration for Smiley. “I was having a rough time and I needed some inspiration to be happy. Even though things get rough, you’ve gotta smile ... no matter how hard it gets.
“I think smiles are contagious. If you see somebody who’s smiling, it’s easier for you to smile. And now with the masks, you really need to read their eyes to get that smile.”
Art of the everyday: See the world through the eyes of the Wisconsin State Journal's photographers
OhYa Studio artists, from left, Brian Kehoe, Ray Mawst and Emily Balsley, work on a mural of flamingos Thursday on the laundromat building at North Blount and East Johnson streets in Madison. The project, which also included artist Liu Szwako, known as Triangulador, was funded by Madison Public Art Project, a nonprofit arts organization.
UW-Madison students make the most of a waning trend of unseasonably warm weather during an outdoor study session Monday on the grounds of the Kohl Center. Pictured clockwise from top are sophomores Isabella Reinhart, Kat Sehgal, Sagen Quale and Rose Main. Studying outside is off the menu today, when the forecast calls for storms followed by more normal highs for November in the 40s.
Middle school students and instructors affiliated with the Goodman Community Center gather Monday in the center's recently completed Founders Outdoor Classroom, a new place to learn with an emphasis on outdoor and environmental topics. Vogel Bros. Building Co. donated labor and supplies, and Eppstein Uhen Architects donated designs and building plans. Additional funding came from American Family Insurance, American Girl, the Courtier Foundation and the Alliant Energy Foundation.
Nessa Tregre, 3, runs through puddles while on a walk Tuesday with her mom, Anne Schuelke, and sister, Sofie Tregre, 7, along the Lake Monona shoreline at Yahara Place Park on Madison's East Side. Veterans Day is expected to be much cooler than last week, with a high in the mid-40s, but a lot sunnier than Tuesday.
Sons of the American Revolution member Mike Nelson carries an American Flag toward a Veterans Day observance at Union Rest in Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison Wednesday. Presented by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Henry Harnden Camp #2, the gathering was held to honor veterans through remembrances of historic military heroes with local ties.
Danielle Haggerty enjoys Thursday's pleasant fall weather while studying in the UW-Madison Arboretum. Friday will be sunny with temperatures reaching only into the upper 30s before a chance of showers moves in Saturday and Sunday with highs in the low to mid-40s.
Members of the Madison Nordic Ski Club -- including, from right, Tom Woody, Mike Ivey, Walt Meanwell, Mark Plane and Bill Coady -- roller ski Thursday along Sherman Avenue.
The sun's seasonal descent closer to the horizon creates a sharp study in light and dark on the south wall of Memorial Library at UW-Madison on Friday. Enjoying a warm beverage and bundled against the recent arrival of colder air is university alumna Madeline Guenther.
Continuing an annual holiday decorating tradition, state Department of Administration Facilities Management worker Josh Heil adds wreaths to a balcony at the Wisconsin State Capitol Monday. The wreaths won't be joined by a Christmas tree in the Capitol rotunda, as Gov. Tony Evers announced last week that there will not be a tree this year because the building remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A late afternoon sun Tuesday silhouettes a visitor to the Lake Wingra shoreline at Vilas Park. Thursday will be mostly sunny and breezy with a high in the low 60s and wind gusts up to 30 mph.
A runner takes to the Capitol City Trail bike path near Lake Monona on Thursday as temperatures climbed into the 60s. Friday and Saturday will be mostly sunny with highs of about 50 and 40, before a chance of rain moves in Sunday.
UW-Madison students Jake Zastrow, Matt Czerwinski and Hannah Walker enjoy Friday's mild autumn temperatures and a late afternoon sun along the shore of Lake Wingra at Vilas Park. Saturday will be mostly sunny with temperatures reaching into the high 30s, followed by a mostly cloudy Sunday with highs in the low 40s.
Asher Johnson, 10, makes his way across a slackline strung between trees during an outing with friends Monday on Madison's Near East Side. Waiting his turn is Tristan Holz, 9. Up to 2 or 3 inches of snow was expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday morning, turning to rain Tuesday afternoon.
A woman and her dog tramp through the first measurable snowfall of the season Tuesday at Harvey E. Schmidt Park in Madison. Rain is likely Wednesday, but Thanksgiving Day is expected to be partly sunny and warmer, according to the National Weather Service.
Making the most of the waning days of autumn, a group of frisbee enthusiasts enjoy a game of Ultimate while watching the day's sun set and an evening moon rise along the Lake Michigan lakefront in Milwaukee.
