Muralists Create a Thunder Tribute on Route 66 

On the side of an empty building next to Sunnyside Diner, a new mural is turning heads and drawing visitors. Painted by Edmond artists Mandolyn White and Cread Bayliss, A Moment in Time depicts Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander glancing back at the Oklahoma City National Memorial during the team’s championship parade. The image, based on a viral photo by Jimmy Do, has already become a popular destination along Route 66. 

The project was funded through Edmond Visual Arts Commission’s mural matching program, which connects business owners with artists. “We were approached by the city of Edmond,” Cread said. “They thought we’d be a great fit for the project.” 

For both Mandolyn and Cread, the path to this wall began long before they met. Mandolyn grew up surrounded by creativity–her grandfather enrolled her in summer art camps, her uncle was an oil painter, and her dad built custom motorcycles, a craft that introduced her to airbrushing. She got her first airbrush at 12 and began customizing sneakers, fueling a love of painting that only grew over time. “This mural was a really cool, full-circle moment for me personally since I graduated from the same high school and grew up in the same town as two of the current Thunder players.” 

Cread’s artistic journey began in Edmond public schools and continued at the University of Central Oklahoma. Along the way, working in a body shop and painting motorcycles honed his skills with spray paint and airbrush, a connection he and Mandolyn would later share. 

After they met, Cread quickly introduced Mandolyn to the mural medium. “I had never done one before,” she said. “He taught me immediately, and we ran with it.” Since then, they’ve developed a rhythm that shows in every piece. “Once we’re on the wall, it’s almost unspoken,” Cread said. “We know where to start, and both hands are in every part of the piece.” 

That teamwork is evident in A Moment in Time. At first, the theme wasn’t set. “We knew it would tie into Route 66 somehow,” Mandolyn said. “But once the Thunder won, it changed overnight. Everyone in the city felt that energy, and we wanted to capture it.” 

Working nights under the light of the moon, the duo finished the massive piece in just three days. They used their signature “doodle grid” technique, covering the wall with shapes and scribbles before sketching the approved design over it. “It looks like tagging at first,” Cread explained, “but once we overlay it on our iPads, it keeps all the proportions right.” 

The mural now features an official Route 66 badge, marking it as a national stop for travelers. “It brings people to Edmond, but now it’s also a destination,” Cread said. Visitors from across the country have already shared photos of the artwork on social media as part of their road trips. 

Beyond its popularity, the mural reflects the couple’s collaborative rhythm. “We’ll trade designs back and forth until we meet in the middle,” Cread said. 

Mandolyn’s lettering provides the final touch to the work. “Her penmanship is really strong,” Cread added. “We both knew she should own that aspect of the mural.” 

The artists say the process was just as meaningful as the final product. Families in the area stopped by with food, water, and even helped with the doodle grid. “A lot of kids wrote their names on the wall before we painted,” Mandolyn said. “So no matter what, their names are always there.” 

For Edmond, A Moment in Time isn’t just a mural. It’s a snapshot of community, unity, and the thrill of a championship, painted permanently in the heart of town.