Immense mural under way

Hamilton, Ohio – When the first pops of paint hit the wall, people paid attention.

In fact, the police dropped in to make sure everything was OK.

 Across the Great Miami River, Spooky Nook took to social media. All manner of passers-by – pedestrians and cyclists alike – stopped, stared, commented and asked questions. Among them, a journalist from WCPO Channel 9 recorded footage and an interview for the evening news.

A new StreetSpark mural often causes a stir. The enormity of the 2024 edition appears especially enticing.

At 250 feet wide by 15 feet high, the 3,750-square-foot wall along the recently named Dave Belew Trail serves as the canvas for the second-largest mural in the nine-year history of the program. (The largest? The 4,500-square-foot Taking Flight mural made in 2017 near Rotary Park.)

Cincinnati- and Louisville-based art collective Often Seen Rarely Spoken started projecting its winning design on the on the wall late June 5. While weather prevented them from finishing projections, the five-man team of artists completed enough to put brushes and rollers to work on the June 6.

OSRS set an ambitious completion date of June 15 for its Tourism Series: Hamilton mural. They plan to paint from 10 a.m. until dark every day, weather permitting.

StreetSpark Program Manager Jennifer Acus-Smith announced the winning design last month after a committee of artists, visual art professionals, community members and program partners selected it from among six semifinalists chosen from a field of 63 applicants for the job.”

“Their goal in this design is to connect the past to the present and create a culturally rich artistic backdrop for future Hamilton generations to be inspired by and feel connected to,” Acus-Smith said.

“The mural will be a visual treat for walkers, joggers and bikers along the Recreational Trail, as well as visitors viewing from across the river. It features large, contemporary typography reading ‘Hamilton’ as a center point. The name is surrounded on both ends by imagery common to Hamilton's history and roots.”

Founded in 2016 in partnership between the Fitton Center, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Community Foundation, StreetSpark furthers the creative identity of the city through exciting murals and public art projects. The program creates engagement by producing high-quality art, providing opportunities for local artists and enhancing the visual appeal of the city.

Since that first summer in 2016, StreetSpark artists designed and painted 19 murals and 17 utility boxes in a variety of styles. See all the murals online here or download a map here to visit them in person. Enjoy a gallery from the first day of painting below and check back for more progress reports during the week.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.

Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture