Mural Projects
Dear Friends of Standing Rock Cultural Arts,
I just got wind of great opportunity for another downtown mural, under the Haymaker
bridge. Little did I know, Jeff from SRCA has been involved from the beginning.
I should have known. David Hassler, Director of Wick Poetry Center has made a
generous donation to this project as well as providing the student teachers who
direct these poetry workshops in our Kent city schools. Elaine Hullihen, local
artist, has been involved in previous SRCA mural projects. Kelly Ferry Manager
of the Haymaker Farmers Market, continues to improve on the valuable resource
that the market provides to the Downtown community. This is a great example of
how a small local network can come together to improve our community. Just a
year ago, I became a member of SRCA Board of directors, because I saw the fruits
of the SRCA mission "building community through the Arts". I think the Haymaker
Market Mural Project also exemplifies the SRCA mission and deserves our support
and I have offered to expand their range by sharing our mailing list.
I have a goal of raising $100 to be donated to the Haymaker Farmers Market Mural
Project In the name of Standing Rock Cultural Arts.
I am asking you my friends of SRCA to help support this great community effort.
Just a couple of bucks at a time can made big difference
Thank you for supporting the Arts,
Sincerely,
Jim VandenBoom
SRCA board member
v-boom@hotmail.com
330 592-6498
Donations can be made by using Paypal
Or at the North Water Street Gallery
Or send a check payable to:
Standing Rock Cultural Arts
257 N. Water St.
Kent, OH 44240
DEADLINE: March 10, 2012
330 673-4970 Standing
Rock Cultural Arts
A notation must be made, "Market Mural Project"
Mural Director, Elaine Hullihen
Artist Statement
When I first heard about a mural for the Haymaker Farmer's Market
I began to daydream about the Haymaker family nestling themselves
into the banks of the Cuyahoga and, like a seed planted in the
earth, the city that henceforth blossomed. I thought about those
early families working to create a life for themselves and each
family in succession that has continued this work and made Kent,
Ohio the city it is today.
In these initial daydreams, images of my own experiences at the market also flashed.
Sunny Saturday mornings, bright with fresh food, friendly faces and bustling
with the energy of being alive. I treasure the Haymaker Farmers Market as a cornerstone
of what is truly special about Kent. It is a way to support local workers, eat
fresh and healthy food and create a community that is a place to belong.
I began this design with these ideas in mind: I intend to honor the history of
our city as well as the current year's harvest. The mural has two main layers.
One, a golden orange/brown, is adapted from an early American cloverleaf pattern
to include mason jars, carnations and black eyed susans. In each of the cloverleaf
vignettes, a piece of Kent's history is highlighted. The resulting pattern is
kind of like a wallpaper or woven hall hanging, serving as a foundation for our
lives. The second main layer is collaged on top of the first. This layer is bursting
with the energy of the season. Plants, fruits and vegetables intermingle with
musicians, farmer's, families and animals. This layer imprints the liveliness
of the market onto the walls surrounding the action.
And then it got better than I could have planned. When the Wick Poetry Center
showed an interest in sharing poems created by elementary school students, the
idea came full circle. Wick's program that encouraged students to think and write
about growing fresh and healthy food introduced an element that was previously
lacking: a look to the future. Where my initial design portrayed the past and
the present, these fresh words from our community's young people will remind
us all of the importance of sharing what we have sowed.
This brings me to the title of the mural, “We give. We gather. We grow.” Not
unlike the growing season, a city works to cultivate for it's people. As members
of this city we plant seeds in our families and our trades. As these seeds develop,
we feel the benefits of this work. From this we gain knowledge and wisdom that
we can then pass that along to those we love. As a nine year resident of Kent,
I have seen first hand that the hard work and effort of the people in this community
has created a vibrant place to live, learn and grow. I am thrilled and humbled
to be contributing to that effort.
WHO: Standing Rock Cultural Arts is pleased to announce
WHAT: Mural Created at new pizzeria in Stow
-Commissioned by New York to Chicago Pizzeria
-set to open February 14 in The Stow Kent Plaza
WHERE: 4320-1 Kent Rd. in Stow Kent Plaza - Just behind Applebee’s
ABOUT SRCA MURAL PROJECTS
In 2005, Local Cherokee artist Edwin George created a painting
that was
turned into our first public art mural in downtown Kent on the
side of the
building that now serves as Scribble's Café, 237 N. Water
St.
Now SRCA is expanding on more opportunities to beautify the community
with
additional murals in public spaces.
Standing Rock Cultural Arts was approached to create a 30’
wide by 6.5’
tall mural on the south interior wall of the new New York to Chicago
Pizzeria in
The Stow Kent Plaza.
With the help of 5 lead artists and a host of volunteers, the
mural was
completed in December. We invite the public to visit this new
pizzeria,
order some pizza and enjoy the view.
Lead artists included Johnny Calani (pizzeria co-owner), James
Cage,
Cynthia Lynn, David Jerome Bragg, and Rebecca Chou. Volunteers
included
Nancy Long, Jeff St. Clair, Elaine Hullihen, and Dave Kiss.
Standing Rock Cultural Arts would like to congratulate Edwin
George on receiving an Individual Artist Fellowship
from the Ohio Arts Council in 2005. This fellowship recognizes
artists of exceptional quality and rewards them for past work.
Only around 8% of those who apply receive grants.
State
Representative Kathleen Chandler recently stopped by The North
Water Street Gallery in Kent to congratulate Edwin George on receiving
a 2005 Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship. Edwin is
one of Ohio's leading folk artists and currently resides in Kent.
Edwin is a full blooded Eastern Band Cherokee
whose paintings tell stories that relate to his Native American
ancestry. He is available for storytelling to any group and especially
enjoys relating to children. He currently resides in Kent, Ohio.
Standing Rock would also like to acknowledge
the significance of Edwin's work because t provides such a wealth
of experience to our community; educationally, culturally and
economically.
Edwin is especially honored and would like to offer
sincere apprection for those in public office who work to support
the Arts.
CLICK
HERE
to read a poem by Maj Ragain for Edwin
George's mural dedication.
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