Midtown Murals Project
In The News
Walls
Coming Alive
with The Midtown Murals Project
By Rob Cole
Midtown is known for its canopy of trees, beautiful Victorian-style homes, coffee-shops and small businesses- and big ugly, blank walls, at least according to James cooper.
Cooper, a four-year resident of the area, is tired of seeing Midtown "suffer" from the effects of stagnate, white-washed walls and lack of art on the public streets. He is spear-heading the aptly named Midtown Murals Project to bring a stronger sense of heritage and history to the area.
"Originally I'm from Seattle, and I saw my neighborhood suffering
from the same things I see here," said Cooper. "So, they started this mural
project..."
The first donated space is on 25th Street between
J and K Streets and is to feature
the Alhambra Theatre as its primary Theme.
This neighborhood activist has teamed up with numerous local proprietors and neighborhood organizations to fund-raise for the first of what they hope will be dozens of artistically painted walls. The first donated space is on 25th Street between J and K Streets and is to feature the Alhambra Theatre as its primary theme.
Cooper believes that such a undertaking might fill a void of forgotten roots in Midtown that could be marketed to attract more people to tour and shop.
"I’ve presented this concept of having murals here, there and everywhere," he said. "I related the idea to what other cities have done, where people could buy brochures on the murals."
People would be able to purchase self-guided tour information on the murals, some local history and background on the artists, which would help support the upkeep of the walls and the contracting of new muralists.
According to Cooper, when he first relayed his idea to Midtown neighbors and business owners, word spread and support snowballed.
"The idea is to bring in Sacramento artists who haven’t had an opportunity to be involved in this kind of project," said Jim Tanovitz of Art Ellis Supply on J Street.
Tanovitz’ shop is housed in front of the site which has been chosen for the inaugural mural. The wall, along with scaffolding and some art supplies, has been donated to the Midtown Murals Project by local individuals and regional companies. Cooper’s group, as of July, is talking to a major paint company to secure everything needed to start work on the first wall, except for the artist.
Cooper and others have convinced the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC) to support their efforts. As a result. SMAC is working as an advisory resource, while soliciting local artists, and has provided tax-exempt, non-profit status for the Midtown group. "This is a fantastic project.’ said Deborah Schwartz of the Art in Public Places branch of SMAC. " It has generated a lot of interest, which means Midtown is ready for this kind of project."
"The key is to keep this thing privately funded to avoid bureaucratic red tape," said Cooper.
Cooper has energized Midtowners who are supporting him in his mission to bring more color to the area.
"Midtown is starting to develop a spirit which hopefully will embrace the entire community) said Denise Evangelista of Choice’s, a gift boutique on J Street. Evangelista anticipates that the murals will bring more people to Midtown to discover its charm.
"We’re not about malls," she said, we’re a group of small businesses with a very special feel."
Cooper and others have convinced the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission to support their efforts.
Cooper hopes to have an artist chosen sometime this month to begin work on the 25th Street location. The muralist selection panel will include members of SMAC, the wall’s owner and a number of supporters of the project.
Tanovitz adds, "I hope this is the start of something that will liven up a now neglected resource: blank walls.