WHAT
The City of Saginaw, in partnership with the Great Mural Project, has been awarded a $25,000 national grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Asphalt Art Initiative grant is intended to revitalize and beautify underutilized public spaces, improve street safety, and to promote collaboration in Saginaw.
The City of Saginaw is one of sixteen cities, out of over 200 applicants, awarded this grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Asphalt Art Initiative not only seeks to create vibrant public spaces but also looks to build city capacity by working with artists and community groups on projects involving transportation infrastructure. From this funding, the City and members of the Great Mural Project will create a collage of colorful murals on the streets, intersections, and crosswalks of Saginaw, or vertical surfaces of transportation infrastructure like utility boxes and traffic barriers.
The City of Saginaw is one of sixteen cities, out of over 200 applicants, awarded this grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Asphalt Art Initiative not only seeks to create vibrant public spaces but also looks to build city capacity by working with artists and community groups on projects involving transportation infrastructure. From this funding, the City and members of the Great Mural Project will create a collage of colorful murals on the streets, intersections, and crosswalks of Saginaw, or vertical surfaces of transportation infrastructure like utility boxes and traffic barriers.
WHERE
This project will enhance three intersections along Court Street between Michigan Avenue and Fordney Street with asphalt paintings in the intersections and colorful crosswalks along Court Street. A committee of diverse leaders will guide local artists as they create asphalt art that celebrates the diversity in our community.
THANK YOU
City of Saginaw
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Saginaw DDA
Photo Cred: Phil Eich, Scott Averill, Tommy Miller Jr.
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Saginaw DDA
Photo Cred: Phil Eich, Scott Averill, Tommy Miller Jr.
| asphalt_art_grant_press_release.pdf |
| paint-a-thon_event_announcement_press_release_09212020.pdf |
Michigan & Court: 'In Harmony'
Artists- Lark Allen, Geoffrey Pelkey, Laura M. Mettam
'The processes of music and nature internally and externally promote diversity through inclusion. Saginaw’s diverse history of music and affinity for the Cherry Blossom tree serve as a testament to the embracing nature of its inhabitants. “In Harmony” pays homage to the diversity of the Saginaw region. Similar to the components of an instrument, which requires various notes working in unison in order to create music, it is important that the buds of the Cherry Blossom tree also bloom, while continuing to evolve over time.'
'The processes of music and nature internally and externally promote diversity through inclusion. Saginaw’s diverse history of music and affinity for the Cherry Blossom tree serve as a testament to the embracing nature of its inhabitants. “In Harmony” pays homage to the diversity of the Saginaw region. Similar to the components of an instrument, which requires various notes working in unison in order to create music, it is important that the buds of the Cherry Blossom tree also bloom, while continuing to evolve over time.'
Hamilton & Court: 'The Children of the Sun'
Nyesha Clark Young
DeVaughn Collins
Jesse Schmitt
Volunteers: Dave Schmitt, Dillard Ringold, Imani Clark, Waheed Akbar , Ebony Brascom, Ke’Andria Brown ,Ahmad Ervin
Victor Reyes, Myrtle Pittman, Cora Layer, Qiana Pittman, Kristina Kenger, Rahim Ervin, Tisch M. Lewis , Tayah Young
Mural Content: Serape: traditional Mexican blanket
Leaves: represent growth
Sphinx/Pyramids of Giza: as the sun rises it falls onto this portion of the mural
Saginaw River: flows through the center
Red, Black, Green: Marcus Garvey Flag
West African Akindra tribe symbols: greatness, hope, unity and change
Chippewa Nation Wampum beads with their renowned floral design
Teotihuacan, Mexico: Pyramid of the Moon( the sun will cross this portion of the mural about 8-10 hours after the pyramids)
Monarch Butterfly: Evolves, grows and can fly across the Atlantic
Egypt, North Africa is around 12 hours ahead of Teotihuacan, Mexico.
The sun rises and sets in congruence with the mural to honor the spirituality and astro-theology That our ancestors considered when designing.
DeVaughn Collins
Jesse Schmitt
Volunteers: Dave Schmitt, Dillard Ringold, Imani Clark, Waheed Akbar , Ebony Brascom, Ke’Andria Brown ,Ahmad Ervin
Victor Reyes, Myrtle Pittman, Cora Layer, Qiana Pittman, Kristina Kenger, Rahim Ervin, Tisch M. Lewis , Tayah Young
Mural Content: Serape: traditional Mexican blanket
Leaves: represent growth
Sphinx/Pyramids of Giza: as the sun rises it falls onto this portion of the mural
Saginaw River: flows through the center
Red, Black, Green: Marcus Garvey Flag
West African Akindra tribe symbols: greatness, hope, unity and change
Chippewa Nation Wampum beads with their renowned floral design
Teotihuacan, Mexico: Pyramid of the Moon( the sun will cross this portion of the mural about 8-10 hours after the pyramids)
Monarch Butterfly: Evolves, grows and can fly across the Atlantic
Egypt, North Africa is around 12 hours ahead of Teotihuacan, Mexico.
The sun rises and sets in congruence with the mural to honor the spirituality and astro-theology That our ancestors considered when designing.
Ezra Rust & Fordney: 'Diversity, Unity, Transformation'
Lead Artist - Stephen Hargash
Assistant - Tristan Zamora
Other Assisting Artists: Ben Weiss, John Martinez, Matt Helsius, Billy Budd, Russ Roessle, Nichole Bartel
'The idea I wanted to portray took the form of a “Diversity Mandala.” It’s a positive vibration I am sending out symbolizing the idea that within our diversity we must have unity to have transformation.'
Assistant - Tristan Zamora
Other Assisting Artists: Ben Weiss, John Martinez, Matt Helsius, Billy Budd, Russ Roessle, Nichole Bartel
'The idea I wanted to portray took the form of a “Diversity Mandala.” It’s a positive vibration I am sending out symbolizing the idea that within our diversity we must have unity to have transformation.'
