In the laundry room of White River Estates in Hesperia, Michigan, the colors are in the baskets that sit on top of the washing machines. They're also on the wall, thanks to a new mural project meant to bring people together. The project, painted by local artist Renae Wallace, draws on in the rural community's river and surroundings.
"We see it as a real catalyst for building ideas around a sense of place and telling stories about communities," says Brian Molhoek, volunteer coordinator at Dwelling Place in Michigan. Though they haven't had a ceremony, due to the social distancing requirements of COVID-19, residents have told fishing stories as they passed each other in the formerly sterile room or talked about growing up in Hesperia. Which is the point, Molhoek says: "Public art can be a broader part of a neighborhood to bring people together."
Often, the public art at Dwelling Place communities is located outside, but Molhoek says a mural's life outdoors is normally about five years, especially given the weather in Michigan. "The indoor mural was based on the desire for longevity," he says.
October is National Arts and Humanities Month, a good time to focus on art. But network organizations point out that they use art all year.
"NeighborWorks organizations use arts and culture-based strategies to achieve a number of goals, from building social connections and amplify residents' voices, to revitalizing neighborhoods and supporting the local economy," says Paul Singh, NeighborWorks' vice president for community initiatives. "That's why NeighborWorks America supports creative community development as part of comprehensive approaches."
At Dwelling Place, headquartered in Grand Rapids, they do murals, sculptures, event-based art projects – even drum circles with residents. "We see art as a community building tool," says Molhoek, who served the nonprofit as a volunteer with NeighborWorks AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America before moving into a full-time position. Dwelling Place's year-round community arts programming is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and includes dozens of projects.
This year, when everyone spent so much time at home, they also used it as an escape, with residents decorating their doors to transport them "anywhere but home." Some residents decorated their doors to depict hometowns they were going to visit in New York or Boston. Others created tropical vacations they wished they could take.
"It was really important for our CLI [Community Leadership Institute hosted by NeighborWorks America] team to have a community event," Molhoek says. "They saw the community arts model as a way to bring people together from a distance." Residents could view the art easily and safely, by strolling hallways of apartment communities alone.
The equipment for producing the art came from the projects the staff wanted to do together, but were unable to do, because of COVID.
"I love walking down the hallways because people express their creativity and individual personality," says Lola Hornof, who has lived in Roosevelt apartments in Muskegon Heights for three years. She created an outer space theme for her door using poster board, paint, foam balls, and a collage of magazine flowers and rocks she has collected over the years. "I think it bonded us, as we all got to express ourselves and what is important to each individual."
It was a cheerful time during COVID, she says. "It brought a lost sense of togetherness since we cannot have our community gatherings."
Molhoek says the CLI team is also working on fundraising for a sculpture project the organization commissioned to help beautify a park near one of their apartment complexes in Muskegon Heights. "The group wanted to push for something visibly stunning," he says. "Dwelling Place sees these community projects as a great catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. Art can be a great tool for that, especially when the art is commissioned and the vision is guided by residents who have a serious stake in the community's wellbeing."
The sculpture, by local artist Lee S. Brown, is called "Leaning In" and will incorporate curved panels that amplify sound when you stand among them. "We still have some fundraising to do," Molhoek says. "But the vision is there."
Further reading: Learn more from NeighborWorks about arts and community development and read a report on how art, culture and creativity can contribute to creating engaged communities.
10/02/2020
