Mural Garden

Can creative placemaking happen in a parking lot? Yes it can.Glass House Collective erected four 16’ long x 8’ tall walls to temporarily transform a parking lot into a ‘Mural Garden’ on Glass Street. Three artists received commissions to design and install artwork during a live demonstration open to the public.

As part of the Better Block event, community members were invited to add their personal touch to a fourth ‘made-by-the-neighborhood’ mural. It’s amazing what happens when we make room for personal expression and the creative process – even if it’s in a parking lot.

Commissioned works included:

The Urban Renaissance Project by Seven utilizes street art as a means to uplift community pride and enhance the appreciation of graffiti as a legitimate art form. Participation in the project helped generate new interest in attending future street art related workshops and events produced by Deep Space Art Studio and Kingdom Graphica.

Hold Your Head Up by Kevin Bate features four portraits based on historic images of people who look proud and exude strength. The 16′ long canvas is divided between the four images that all support one another but can also be divided and stand on their own. Strength personified.

Music Concrete: Glass Street by Devon Kronenberg is a collage in four parts. Each of the four collages were assembled from the repetition of a single corresponding woodblock print which depicted something from the location or surrounding area: gravel, trees, brick, and chain link fence.

Outcomes:
75 ‘made-by-the-neighborhood’ mural participants
3 new public art installations on Glass Street (‘Hold Your Head Up’ and ‘Music Concrete,’ March – August of 2013)