Student mural brings Mussey Avenue bridge to life

The Mussey Avenue Bridge over the Black River in south Elyria has a new, much brighter disposition after 13 local students worked together to bring it to life with a new mural. The students worked through Elyria non-profit Leaders of Today and with Cleveland-based artist Isaiah "Starbeing" Williams over the last six months to make the project a reality. Marsalis Hammons, founder and CEO of Leaders of Today, said this was the fourth year of the organization's Public Art and Culture Program. The program seeks to beautify Lorain County while teaching students how art can be both a career path and a force for change. "Originally this started off on eight by four foot murals that were displayed across the county, but we wanted to grow the program and be able to raise awareness around public art, the power of public art and really transform our community," Hammons said. The project began about six months ago, when high school and early college students were asked to submit artwork for a proposed mural. Hammons said the organization selected 13 student artists and spent the ensuing months working with them and Williams to design a mural. This mural was different from others that LOT had done in the past, as it was on a bridge along an active roadway rather than on a blank wall like previous projects. It was with Williams' experience and the talent of both him and the students that they were able to create a design which would work and incorporate the submitted art, Hammons said. "That's really kudos to Isaiah, for being able to deal with that complexity," he said. "But ultimately, it's a canvas at the end of the day, right? Whether its a bridge or a street or a wall, it's a canvas for an artist. So they have the ability to work with it and still bring that creativity out through paint." Williams said he has extensive experience working on murals, a journey that started with art collaborative "Lab Cabin Cleveland," but that this was still a challenging project. "I had my concerns as well because I've never painted on a bridge of that shape and length and everything like that," he said. "But I knew it was possible because art is paint, and paint, as long as you can find a way to apply it in a timely fashion, it's doable." Williams said he likes to make pieces that are colorful and inviting, but that his work also varies widely even within each project; drawing from a number of styles. That diversity of style was further compounded by working with students on the project and taking input form the community. "The community was involved and they were a big part of filling out the space and contributing to the design," he said. "So I really feel like these types of community engagement projects are also very impactful. It gives the students and myself a sense of pride in the project and in that part of the community. Hopefully it might inspire people to be more involved on projects like that." Students spent last Friday and Saturday bringing life to the work imagined by them and brought together by Williams. Williams and a partner had done the preparation for the project last week and added finishing touches on Monday. The Mussey Avenue Bridge is now painted with a wide variety of colors bearing likenesses to faces, people and ideas. The bridge also bears two slogans, "Learn and Empower" and "Act and Dream" on either side. Hammons and Williams went to the city with the idea to paint the bridge and Mayor Kevin Brubaker said he "jumped right on it," helping them through the planning process. "That's just a great improvement to that area," Brubaker said. "There's a lot of cool activity going on over there and this just adds to that." The city is also working with Leaders of Today on a pocket park project at the corner of West Avenue and 15th Street near the Mussey Avenue Bridge. Brubaker said Hammons expressed interest in other bridge mural projects around the city and added that he would "love to see them do more." "They were out there working on it and I stopped by a few times," Brubaker said. "What was really cool was stopping by on Saturday and getting to see all those kids out there working together to paint it." Hammons hopes that by using students and their art on this project, the organization could show them that there are real careers and options utilizing their artistic talents. "(We're) helping students raise their awareness around different careers, like, you know, a muralist or architecture or going into urban planning," he said. "So that's really what it boils down to." Williams said that working with young students to show them what is possible with their skills and how to tackle a large project was crucial to him. "It is important for me to work with younger people who are in the position that I was in at one point," he said. "I would have loved to have someone who could show me the ropes, teach me the techniques. It makes life just a little bit easier for that next generation when they come in and are called upon to create cool bodies of work." Rather than just tell students about the opportunities in art, Leaders of Today shows them; by providing a stipend to students in the program between $250 and $500, both at the beginning and end of the project. "It's just our way of showing young young adults, young students that their gifts and their talents, their skills can actually lead to something," Hammons said. "... we're grateful to be able to provide something that appeals to youth, to incentivize and motivate them to get involved. Because we understand these are students who might be helping out at home or might not have means for food, gas or whatever it may be. So this is a big opportunity for them and it's all coming from their abilities and talents." Hammons said most of the students involved this year are either new college students or students at Elyria High School. Along with benefiting the students, Hammons said it was hoped that the public art would bring a vibrance and hope to south Elyria that would hopefully manifest in other ways. "South Elyria has been often overlooked in different ways," Hammons said. "There's a need for investment and growth within that neighborhood." More than just paint on concrete, the Leaders of Today believe that public art can serve as a catalyst to inspire residents to better care and advocate for their communities. "I think that it goes beyond the symbolism of just, 'Hey, we painted a mural,' but is really uplifting," Hammons said. "We understand mental health is a big issue here. So public murals have the ability to, you know, change somebody's mood who may just be passing by that bridge in a car or walking past. It has that ability to have an instant effect while also just helping the look of the neighborhood overall." Williams said he was thankful to have been asked to take on such a unique project and for the opportunity to work with Leaders of Today. "I'm really impressed with Leaders of Today and how they conduct themselves and what they do for the community," Williams said." I'm really hopeful of the progress and impact that they're going to generate for the kids of the future." The mural was carefully prepared and thanks to the paint used by the team, Williams said it should remain virtually unfaded and unchanged for at least 10 years. To learn more about Leaders of Today, visit leadersoftoday.org. To view Williams' artwork, visit starbeing.co. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.