Johns Park mural dedication is Sunday

Two murals by local artists at the Johns Park Pavilion will be dedicated with a ribbon cutting on at 2 p.m. Sunday, and the public is invited.

Artists Demetrius Howell and Samantha Schneider completed two 4-foot x 8-foot panels at the pavilion.

The hand-painted murals are coated with a silicone clear coat where any future tagging graffiti can be cleaned with soap and water.

The City of Mansfield Parks Department contacted Mankind Murals earlier this year when the Johns Park building was vandalized, where together on July 15 volunteers in the neighborhood stepped up and volunteers from the Mansfield Art Center and Crossroads Church collaborated to paint the building black.

Howell was born and raised in Mansfield, attended Mansfield Senior High School and is now a tattoo artist at Outer Mind Creations.

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Howell chooses to paint someone who is an inspiration

“I felt that LeBron James would be a good choice for me to paint because the basketball courts are right there at Johns Park. He is an inspiration to me, and he’s an inspiration to most kids,” Demetrius said.

Howell enjoys spending time with his three kids. He also is the founder of XMADEinc clothing line, and is thriving in his craft as a tattoo artist, recently attending multiple tattoo conventions and winning some recognitions.

Howell also painted the mural of the Mansfield City Schools' Tyger visible on West Fourth Street and Rowland Avenue, as well as murals at John Todd Park and Outer Mind Creations.

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Schneider enjoys 'magical and fantastical'

Schneider graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2021, double majoring in fine art painting and drawing.

“I enjoy creating work that leans more towards the magical and fantastical. I use bright and vibrant colors to tap into the emotional aspects of my art,” Schneider said.

Since graduating and coming back to the Mansfield area, Schneider artworks have been shown at galleries in Toledo. Schneider works as a graphic designer at Black Belt fitness where she is practicing Taekwondo.

Her first exterior mural is visible on Fourth and Diamond streets at Hursh Pharmacy, which she did in 2019. Schneider continues to take on mural projects and artwork commissions on large canvases.

Artists will be present and hot cider and cocoa will be served with some light food provided by Mankind Murals. Free coloring book pages will be available for kids to take home.

Luke Beekman of Mankind Murals, said, "We are thankful to those who take pride in John’s Park and hope this project can bring joy and inspiration to all in the neighborhood and all who use this park."

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: See Demetrius Howell's, Samantha Schnieder's artwork at Johns Park.