Paige M.
Yelp
Have you noticed new murals popping up around town? Those are some of the beautiful projects contributed by the non-profit organization, Artworks.
Since 1996, Artworks has employed 2,350 Cincinnati youths and 480 professional artists to create over 200 public works of art throughout Greater Cincinnnati. There are currently 46 murals in 28 neighborhoods around the city. Fifteen new murals were just painted in Summer 2011.
I was fortunate enough to partake on a tour of the city's murals with Colleen, the Director of Programs for Artworks. We piled into my friend's van as Colleen guided us around the city, pointing out murals and describing the details and vision behind each. Murals ranged from vibrant and colorful, to subtle, to bold and vintage, and some even showed a progression of a story. The majority of the murals I pass by regularly and wonder, "Where'd that come from?" Until yesterday, I had no idea how prominent Artworks' projects were in the community! Downtown, there is a mural every couple of blocks. They've even expanded over to Northern Kentucky.
Our driving tour with Colleen took two hours. While not everyone can have a personal guide, maps of all the murals are available at Artworks. It would be a great afternoon adventure to scout out all the Downtown creations.
Check out the locations of all the murals on Google Maps too!
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=207266536287389959124.0004a792ea36847b51433&msa=0
Want a mural in your neighborhood? Download this form to apply:
http://www.artworkscincinnati.org/muralworks/index.shtml
Upon city approval, murals usually take 6-8 months to complete, from idea conception to the final brush stroke.