Color the Creek inspires young artists in downtown Battle Creek
Katelyn Brown donned a flower crown as she relaxed on grass underneath the shade of a nearby tree at Mill Race Park on Wednesday.
She was in downtown Battle Creek along with her mother, Noelle Brown, to "do something fun" and participate in a youth day event as part of Color the Creek, the weeklong public art festival. Launched by Justin Andert in 2016, the festival showcases local and national artist who create murals and other works of public art, with over 40 large murals painted to date around the city.
“I really love seeing all the big murals all over Battle Creek when we’re driving around so I’m excited to see all the new ones," Katelyn said. "I just think the art is so pretty."
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As families at the park added splashes of color to a large letter sculpture that spells out "The Creek," Noelle Brown pondered contributing to the project.
“So that way, when we drive by I can say, 'I painted that,'” she said.
Along with the flower crown-making station and sculpture painting, Color the Creek Youth Day included chalk art and hands-on demonstrations of how to make art with spray paint.
Andert said Color the Creek is an "artist-led movement to see how we can use public art to really hopefully re-envision and reshape the community. We’ve seen the impact it’s had over the last 7 years and it’s really culminating in things that bring the community together like this."
Across the street from Mill Race Park, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation hosted a ceremony unveiling its new banner mural, painted by Battle Creek artist Jamari Taylor.
"I love to use portrait work as a way to uplift others and get others inspired," Taylor said before the unveiling. "So with this project, what you are going to see is different body languages of children in portraiture and nature, and all kinds of symbolism that will uplift them and get them inspired. I hope when they come by or when you come by with your family, you get inspired and see yourself up on the wall."
Faye Nelson, WKKF Director of Michigan Programs, said Color the Creek "contributes to the vibrancy of Battle Creek."
"When we thought about updating our banner over our front door, we couldn't think of a more exciting partner than Color the Creek to help us showcase our commitment to Battle Creek and the children and families that call this great city home," she said.
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Color the Creek programing continues Friday with a downtown "art hop" at Festival Market Square, BC Cargo, Handmap Brewing and Michigan Avenue, from 5-9 p.m. to 9 p.m., when there also will be a downtown disc golf event within the city's Social District. A "Miami Nights" closing block party is planned for 7-11 p.m. on Saturday.
New murals can be found at the following locations:
⋅ 44 W. Michigan Ave. (The Arc/Theirlooms, back of building), by JARS
⋅ 44 W. Michigan Ave. (The Arc/Theirlooms, side of building), by Jaziel Pugh
⋅ 1 E. Michigan Ave. (W.K. Kellogg Foundation), by Jamari Taylor
⋅ 432 W. Michigan Ave. (Hex Design Co.), by CZR PRZ
⋅ 51 Riverside Dr. (next to Blue Ox Credit Union), by Teaira Gray and Duncan Holmes
⋅ Mill Race Park, by Birdseed Anthony
Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Color the Creek inspires young artists in downtown Battle Creek
