Vine Street Murals and Can-paign (2005), Cincinnati, Ohio

The Vine Street Mural Project and Can-paign The themes and images of new art created for the Vine Street corridor between Central Parkway and Liberty Street come from the hearts and minds of neighborhood residents. The workshop served nearly 60 participants over 5 months, and employed processes and standards typical of a professional design painting business. Pre-employment skills were learned by dozens of young artists who became aware of the importance of public art and its responsibility to uplift life on the streets. Blight on Vine Street at 12th For years the businesses on one of our main streets have been boarded up. Abandonment has its repercussions, and crime presently is rampant in Over-the-Rhine. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful decided to apply project money to a new community-based art initiative in 2005.

"Love Dove" Temporary and moveable murals now decorate seven formerly blighted facades. Residents appreciate the new color and positive messages offered through art by local teens who worked with professional artists at the Peaslee Neighborhood Center. "Love Dove" detail Community residents wrote a word in white that is related to peace, then signed their name in red, finishing with a thumbprint their engagement for peace on this artful "contract."

Blight on Vine Street at 12th Phase I murals, created by 32 participants from DAAP/UC and Impact Over-the-Rhine are installed. In the foreground is a refurbished trash can decorated by Rasheen Blount. Phase I mural, "Rainy Day Play", emphasizes joy in playing together despite adverse conditions. The sun is bound to come out again! Phase I mural, "Like Father, Like Daughter" with two teen artists from Impact OTR.

Phase II artists take a walk in the neighborhood to discover the art already installed, and pose with "Sticking Together." Keep Cincinnati Beautiful director Linda Holterhoff (left) congratulates the Phase III artists upon installation of two more murals and a dozen decorated trashcans. She reported that crime statistics were down 12% since the art appeared on Vine Street.

Caprice Wood was a Phase I and III artist. She demonstrated a remarkable ability to express many ideas through her art and poetry in the mural work and Can¥paign. We are proud of Caprice for being awarded a YWCA Youth Recognition prize for her work with us.

The first round of decorated trashcans appeared on Vine Street in July 2005 with a celebration that included councilman David Pepper, who congratulated each of the student artists. The neighborhood praises this important contribution by its teens and is uplifted by the cheerful nature of these functional artworks. "DTW Map Flag" was designed in Phase I and fulfilled by the end of Phase III. This unique high-relief artwork measures 7' x 9', is segmented like a puzzle, and features found objects gathered during our investigative walks around the neighborhood.

DEDICATION These art cans and murals are dedicated to the neighborhood, and were created at Peaslee Neighborhood Center. We thank our sponsors : Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, The City of Cincinnati Safe and Clean Fund, and the Fifth Third Foundation. Impact OTR also supported our young artists. Installation assistance was provided by Model Group. Assisting the artists are: Sara Fraser, Victoria Allen, Erin Mallery, Roger Reifonas Cans Lead Artist: Eliza Combs Project Art Director: Jan Brown Checco Impact OTR Youth Artists: Carmella Flagg Caprice Woods Ken Whitfield Demico Dunn Cortez Bailey Rasheen Blount Earl Drain