Apprentice Artists: Kiyah Auguste
Gabrielle Fairbanks
Alex Hand
Jonah Harnist
Sydney Jenkins
Osha McEachin
Joshua Mindlin
Wilhelmina Roe
Rupie Spraul
Joseph Adrian Vergara
Kyra Watkins
Location: Burnet Avenue and William Howard Taft Road
Cincinnati, OH 45219
On May 24, 2012, a community engagement session was held in order solicit ideas and feedback from members of the Corryville community. Staff from ArtWorks, ProKids, and CPS were joined by Joyce Young, ArtWorks Apprentice Artists, and residents and business representatives of Corryville to discuss the project goals and decide on a direction for the mural design. Click below to see the results of that session.
About this Project: ArtWorks, ProKids, and Cincinnati Public Schools are teaming up to create a brand new mural on the corner of William H. Taft Rd and Burnet Ave. The goal of this community mural project is to honor the legacy of the site's previous artwork, while celebrating a new generation of organizations in the neighborhood that work collaboratively to prepare youth for lifelong success. The hope is to move community members to action, and inspire youth to imagine and realize their dreams!
In the 1980s, a group of students from then Merry Junior High School painted a mural along the retaining wall located at the corner of Burnet Avenue and William Howard Taft Road in Cincinnati’s Corryville neighborhood. This vivid and colorful mural celebrated the lives and talents of Cincinnati’s diverse youth. Over the years, due to the structural nature of the retaining wall, the mural’s colors began to fade and the paint began to chip and peel. Despite valiant efforts in 1996 and 2000 by other teams of youth to revitalize the wall, the mural has continued to degrade.
Almost three years ago, thanks to the generosity of the Mayerson Foundation, ProKids moved to their current location at 2605 Burnet Ave. They were welcomed into this historic community and soon began receiving requests to address the blighted mural across from their office. Last summer, they met with ArtWorks to determine the steps needed to create a new and inspirational mural. ArtWorks Mural Program’s reputation for excellence and experience are unsurpassed in our community, both in terms of the quality of their public art and engagement of our youth. ArtWorks and ProKids met with officials from Cincinnati Public Schools, which owns the wall. CPS endorsed the project, joined the partnership, and granted permission to proceed. Shortly thereafter, ProKids submitted a proposal to ArtWorks for partnerships, funding, and mural design. The mural’s theme focuses on empowering and inspiring the community to become actively involved in child related services and education.
Considerable time and expense have been invested to ensure this project’s success and lasting impact. The retaining wall must undergo considerable repair so that the new mural will have a long-lasting impact. With ArtWorks in the lead, the child protection community, arts community, and business community have come together to meet the challenge of raising the funds needed to see this project completed. We would like to invite all of you to join these committed community members and share in the common vision for a new generation of children and join with us to create a lasting and impactful child-focused work of art!
Want to support this mural? Make a tax-deductible donation to help us make art work for Corryville!
Before Pictures of the Mural Wall:
This mural brought to you by:
Contact us ArtWorks
20 E. Central Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45202
t (513) 333-0388
f (513) 333-0799
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