Columbus, IN
Enlivening a neighborhood business district
The Project
The City of Columbus, Indiana, installed a two-part asphalt mural along 16th Street at the intersections of Home Avenue and Union Street, near a residential neighborhood and budding commercial node. By transforming the streetscape with colorful artwork and improving safety and walkability, the City hopes to uplift residents and visitors and increase foot traffic to the neighborhood business district, as part of an overarching civic aim of enhancing social connectivity and economic growth through creative placemaking and art activation.
Lead artists Shamira Wilson and Cory Robinson’s approach to the 16th Street project builds on strengths and similarities between the individual artists, while striving to find new ways of working with shared themes to explore new ideas for the site. Playing with the vocabulary of grids, muted and vibrant color palettes and a series of repeated “leaf” shapes has led the creative team to the initial proposal. With the help of 21 volunteers, 52 gallons of paint, 25 hours of painting, the artist duo installed the mural over the course of two days.
“Columbus is a small town with an enormous story to tell around Design, Industrial Design, Architecture and Environmental Design. I like how the work we did with the Asphalt Art Initiative allowed this design identity to literally spill into the street and maybe pick up a few new fans along the way.”
Cory Robinson, Artist
Use the slider to see the transformation
Press
ON THE STREET: Graphic art project on 16th Street something new for Columbus (The Republic, May 20, 2021)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
