Learn the story behind upcoming ArtWorks murals at Wet Paint
Photo of Nytaya Babbitt by MonstaTheEngineer.
Wet Paint by ArtWorks is a quarterly event series that offers a look behind the scenes of the organization’s upcoming projects, centering on the artists who make our city vibrant. Since 1996, ArtWorks has employed over 7,000 youth and creative professionals, annually investing around $1.5 million in wages for artists. ArtWorks is inviting the public to learn more about the experience of creating public art and other arts-based projects from the Apprentice Artists and project designers. Each event will feature a series of talks for Apprentice artists and highlight one project designer from the season in an artist talk and Q&A at the event.
Nytaya Babbitt, originally from Jackson, Mississippi, is a Cincinnati-based multidisciplinary artist working to connect the gap between minority communities and the broader conversation of equality and justice. Nytaya believes that in order to connect and really understand a group of individuals is to provide spaces where initially no one feels comfortable. She believes that change doesn’t happen when important information and topics are made more palatable for any audience. Nytaya believes in order to be a decisive artist that is committed to serving the community she has to engage with what makes her uncomfortable.
“I am inspired by hardworking people that fight to take up space because those are the people promoting actual change and critical thinking,” said Nytaya Babbitt, mural designer. “There is a border conversation to be had when it comes to how artists represent minority groups within their own work.”
Murals featured at September Wet Paint:
Crown Mural designed by L.D. Nehls
Madisonville Library Mural designed by Sharareh Khosravani, Danielle Allen, Jazmyn Brown, Terrie Dean, Jalawn Monroe, Claire Stoneking-Wagner
Elevation through Education, Legacy of Royalty, and Evolution of Evanston designed by Adoria Maxberry
Pillars of Cincinnati designed by Nytaya Babbitt
CROWN mural team with Cincinnati councilmember, Meeka Owens and city staffers, Gavin Campbell and
Will Gerhardt.
Photo of part of the Perspectives mural.
Apprentice working on Perspectives mural. Photo by Sandra Okot-Kotber.
Apprentice working on Perspectives mural. Photo by Sandra Okot-Kotber.
CROWN mural team with the mural designer, L.D. Nehls.
CROWN mural team with the mural designer, L.D. Nehls.
Madisonville Library Mural team at community engagement session.
Madisonville Library Mural team at community engagement session.
Madisonville Library Mural team.
CROWN mural team with city council staff.
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Event Lineup:
5:30 p.m. – Welcome
Q&A – Ask the Apprentices questions
Intermission – Relax, mingle, grab a beverage
Artist talk featuring Mural Designer, Nytaya Babbitt
Q&A – Ask Nytaya questions
7:30 p.m. – Farewell
There is no entry fee to attend. A cash, non-alcoholic bar will be available for refreshments.
Special thank you to 21c Museum Hotel for sponsoring this event!
ArtWorks is an award-winning Greater Cincinnati nonprofit that transforms people and places through investments in creativity. The organization collaborates with community organizations and residents, businesses, governments, foundations and nonprofits to build creative works of art that bolster the region’s global reputation as an arts destination. ArtWorks employs professional artists who inspire and mentor diverse teams of youth, ages 14-21, helping them build 21st century career-readiness skills. These teams have completed more than 14,000 public and private art projects in its 26 years, including more than 200 permanent outdoor murals.
