Neighborhood Markers Mural Unveiling Scheduled for Mother's Day
May 02, 2019
Teens and adults assisted in the "paint-by-number" process to create the 63-foot-long mural designed by Natalia Pilato, art education director and assistant professor in ODU's Department of Art, and her students with community input.
The unveiling of the Neighborhood Markers community mural, a large-scale public art project spearheaded by the Art Department at Old Dominion University and the NEON District, for the Young Terrace neighborhood in Norfolk will take place on Mother's Day, May 12, from 2-4 p.m. at the CHKD Thrift Store, 795 Monticello Ave.
Local teens and adults assisted in the "paint-by-number" process to create a 63-foot-long mural. It was designed by Natalia Pilato, art education program director and assistant professor in the Department of Art, and her ODU students with community input. The 1,500-square-foot artwork, which will be on the Thrift Store's exterior wall, represents community unity and celebrates neighborhood youths.
"We have had over 300 painting visits over the past nine weeks," Pilato said.
Along with public speakers, the event will include a DJ, children's art activities, a bouncy house, flowers for mothers, face painting, prizes and free food, most of which was donated by businesses in the community.
Students from the ODU Arts and Art Education program and the Humanities Visual Studies program began the Neighborhood Markers project in January by surveying community members within a half-mile radius of the mural site to seek input for design content and concepts. Students enrolled in Pilato's elementary art methods course also worked with K-2 children at P.B. Young Elementary School in Norfolk to incorporate art by the children featuring "sky, sea, transportation and home."
The ODU students created designs for the mural based on that input and their own elements. Pilato incorporated some of those ideas to make the final digital design that was traced onto the panels that students and participants painted. The panels became part of a large grid used to create the permanent project. The installation of the mural began in late April.
Other partners in Neighborhood Markers include:
- Downtown Norfolk Council
- P.B. Young Elementary School
- Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority
- Young Terrace Community Center
- Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
For more information on Neighborhood Markers, please follow along:
- http://neighborhoodmarkers.com/index.html
- https://www.facebook.com/neighborhoodmarkers/
- https://www.instagram.com/neighborhood_markers/?hl=en
