Springfield, Oregon Unveils Simpsons Mural

The “real” Springfield, in Oregon, unveiled its much–anticipated Simpsons mural on Monday, and Yeardley Smith, the voice of Lisa, was on hand to pull the rope in front of a crowd of almost a thousand.

The mural is the culmination of years of dialogue between the city and Simpsons producers, including the show’s creator, Portland boy Matt Groening. It was erected on the side of Springfield’s Emerald Arts Center, and measures 15 feet by 30 feet. The mural was designed by Julius Preite, vice president of animation for 20th Century Fox, and painted by Old City Artists.

It features Bart about a drop a water balloon on Homer, who is lounging in a hammock while Marge paints a very flattering portrait of him. Lisa and Maggie are biking together nearby.

Although the artwork was the main attraction, the crowd and media gobbled up the lines spoke by Smith during her pre-unveiling press conference. Smith later left her handprints (and shoeprints) in the city’s new “Simpsons Walk of Fame,” which will be located on Fifth Street in the city.

After cautioning that Springfield was named so just because “it’s the most common name for a town in the United States,” Smith added an anecdote. “Wherever I go, people always ask me two questions,” she said. “One: ‘Is that show still on?’ And two: ‘So what state is Springfield in?’”

“We have always said that Springfield is every town in America. But that is a dirty lie,” she joked, to the crowd’s clear delight. “Springfield is obviously in Oregon. I mean, it’s so obvious. Look at the beautiful mountains and the phenomenal people.”

However, she also added one last quip before dropping the curtain: “Let’s get this dedication going, because I have to catch a plane to Springfield, Mass, for a completely unrelated mural unveiling.”

[via The Register Guard]