Friday, February 7, 2025

City canvas, primary people

“Art has no choice but to lead to improvement,” said Rachel Richardson, creator of Art Corner Toledo  with the appropriate alliteration, ACT. “My definition of art is that it’s the deliberate creation.”

Following the success of the Toledo Loves Love mural project at Adams and 13th Sts., Richardson went on to propose future public art through a series of murals and is commissioned to run 15 projects throughout the area before October 31, 2015. These murals include the long green wall between Huron & Superior by Erie St. Market, Jack Wilson’s Studio at 19 S. St. Clair, Dorr & Smead Sts., Library Village in the parking lot of Schroyer's Auto Repair Shop, —perpendicular to the Toledo Loves Love Wall.

Richardson says that the murals have an impact that is measurable, and cites that business owners and residents in the area have reported a feeling of safety and pride in their neighborhoods. “People stop and they ask you what you’re doing. It's a conversational piece that’s purely positive. There’s no room for any negativity near it,” she said of the projects. “Some people say, ‘That's really cool—I’m an artist too.”

In addition to giving work to Toledo artists, public art communicates a vibrancy and energy that brings about a sense of community and profits businesses and general outlook. “When people ask about the return on investment, I say the return is a more livable city,” Richardson said.

It's no coincidence that places like The Moxie, a self-described arthouse pub, has moved in with the momentum of the art scene. And on a larger scale, ProMedica's Ebeid Center is slated to open at Madison and 18th Sts., along with a grocery store for downtown dwellers.

For art’s sake

Ed Conn, whose sketch “Aquaria” is in the running for a place between Huron and Superior said, “A community that cares about itself is a safe community . . . Toledo has an incredible artistic energy set up from this groundwork, and art is a critical component to the development of any urban area.”

Conn served as a volunteer diver for the Toledo Zoo. His design features marine life from the big tank. He boasts a jack-of-all-trades career in Toledo, having moved from a job at National Geographic to Toledo to marry and be with his wife- an employee at O-I.

"We think this place is cool," Conn said.

Hidden treasure

In order for the projects to succeed, Art Corner Toledo is fundraising and asking for community and company support.  “We're looking for corporate sponsors who want to contribute to the community in a lasting, visible way,” Richardson said. She also explained that ACT is not a non-profit agency. People get confused because, as she put it, “there is a social justice component, but it's a company.

 “I always tell people if they are uncomfortable writing a check . .  to purchase gift cards to Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards . . . even dropping off a few cans of paint really helps,” Richardson said, citing that the most expensive part of mural projects is the scaffolding. “Last year the equipment (for that), the bucket lifts alone cost about 20K.”

“I do get really excited on the day we prime the wall. The day where we put the primer on, it’s like ‘See? It's really happening!’”

For more information on how to get involved or to submit a design, contact ACT at
[email protected]

“Art has no choice but to lead to improvement,” said Rachel Richardson, creator of Art Corner Toledo  with the appropriate alliteration, ACT. “My definition of art is that it’s the deliberate creation.”

Following the success of the Toledo Loves Love mural project at Adams and 13th Sts., Richardson went on to propose future public art through a series of murals and is commissioned to run 15 projects throughout the area before October 31, 2015. These murals include the long green wall between Huron & Superior by Erie St. Market, Jack Wilson’s Studio at 19 S. St. Clair, Dorr & Smead Sts., Library Village in the parking lot of Schroyer's Auto Repair Shop, —perpendicular to the Toledo Loves Love Wall.

Richardson says that the murals have an impact that is measurable, and cites that business owners and residents in the area have reported a feeling of safety and pride in their neighborhoods. “People stop and they ask you what you’re doing. It's a conversational piece that’s purely positive. There’s no room for any negativity near it,” she said of the projects. “Some people say, ‘That's really cool—I’m an artist too.”

In addition to giving work to Toledo artists, public art communicates a vibrancy and energy that brings about a sense of community and profits businesses and general outlook. “When people ask about the return on investment, I say the return is a more livable city,” Richardson said.

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It's no coincidence that places like The Moxie, a self-described arthouse pub, has moved in with the momentum of the art scene. And on a larger scale, ProMedica's Ebeid Center is slated to open at Madison and 18th Sts., along with a grocery store for downtown dwellers.

For art’s sake

Ed Conn, whose sketch “Aquaria” is in the running for a place between Huron and Superior said, “A community that cares about itself is a safe community . . . Toledo has an incredible artistic energy set up from this groundwork, and art is a critical component to the development of any urban area.”

Conn served as a volunteer diver for the Toledo Zoo. His design features marine life from the big tank. He boasts a jack-of-all-trades career in Toledo, having moved from a job at National Geographic to Toledo to marry and be with his wife- an employee at O-I.

"We think this place is cool," Conn said.

Hidden treasure

In order for the projects to succeed, Art Corner Toledo is fundraising and asking for community and company support.  “We're looking for corporate sponsors who want to contribute to the community in a lasting, visible way,” Richardson said. She also explained that ACT is not a non-profit agency. People get confused because, as she put it, “there is a social justice component, but it's a company.

 “I always tell people if they are uncomfortable writing a check . .  to purchase gift cards to Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards . . . even dropping off a few cans of paint really helps,” Richardson said, citing that the most expensive part of mural projects is the scaffolding. “Last year the equipment (for that), the bucket lifts alone cost about 20K.”

“I do get really excited on the day we prime the wall. The day where we put the primer on, it’s like ‘See? It's really happening!’”

For more information on how to get involved or to submit a design, contact ACT at
[email protected]

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