There are plenty of activities for seniors living in Cincinnati. But not all of them require visiting a building — well, nothing housed inside a building, anyway.
You may have noticed in recent years a lot of public art projects taking place in and around the city. Many of them are murals, most sponsored by ArtWorks and other art advocacy agencies. They’re part of a strategic partnership between the city and local artists to make a concerted effort to both beautify Cincinnati and to visually tell its history.
Today, over 100 murals are visible in 36 neighborhoods and several nearby suburbs.
The inspiration for visualization
While on a city-to-city cultural exchange in 2007, former Mayor Mark Mallory was impressed by Philadelphia’s public mural program. That program has resulted in over 3,000 murals painted on walls, in public parks and spaces, on abandoned buildings and more over the past 30 years.
Mallory’s administration subsequently asked ArtWorks to work with Cincinnati’s visual artists to create a mural in each of the city’s 52 neighborhoods. And the arts community responded in droves.
Today, over 100 murals are visible in 36 neighborhoods and several nearby suburbs — many completed by apprentices in ArtWorks youth programs — and more are on the way!
Take a tour!
On Saturdays, during the warm months of the year (May through October), several tours of the murals are available through ArtWorks.
The Soul of Downtown walk meets at 10 a.m. and is about 1 mile long (90 minutes in duration) and tours murals in downtown Cincinnati, including four works belonging to ArtWorks’ “Cincinnati Master Artist” series. The Spirit of OTR walk is also a mile long and tours murals in Over-the-Rhine. It meets at 2 p.m.
The cost per adult is $15, but large groups can receive discounts on the rate. And children under 12 years old cost only $7, so it’s affordable to take the grandkids along.
Private group tours can be arranged by contacting ArtWorks directly.
Although the tours will flesh out the backstory for each work, you don’t have to take one to experience and appreciate the murals on your own. Here are five murals that seniors living in Cincinnati should be sure to check out.
Homecoming (Blue Birds)
119 East Court St., Cincinnati 45202
Charley Harper was a fixture in the Modernist movement and a longtime resident of the Queen City. His paintings used tangram geometric forms — predominantly triangles and squares — to explore Harper’s deep interest in nature and wildlife conservation.
Harper graduated from the Cincinnati Art Academy and taught there for many years. A mural of two bluebirds, completed in his characteristic style, stands testament to the lasting impression his work made on many burgeoning artists.
Campy Washington
3025 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati, 45225
A tongue-in-cheek play on its namesake neighborhood, Camp Washington, and the Schenz Theatrical Supply Company across the street, this mural features George Washington in drag, flying pig mascots and other whimsical imagery. Loosen your collar, relax and enjoy the campy fun!
The Cobbler’s Apprentice Plays Ball
120 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati, 45202
Another mural inspired by a famous Cincinnati artist, this work represents a twist on Frank Duveneck’s realist masterpiece painting “The Cobbler’s Apprentice,” which is housed in the Taft Museum of Art’s permanent collection.
Inspired by the mural’s proximity to Great American Ballpark, the muralists added a baseball bat to the composition, invoking both Duveneck’s work and Cincinnati’s heritage as the “Birthplace of Professional Baseball.”
Mr. Dynamite
(Pictured, top)
1437 Main St., Cincinnati, 45202
What does the Godfather of Soul have to do with the Queen City? Everything. James Brown’s career began right here!
As a recording artist on Syd Nathan’s Norwood-based King Records label, Brown’s crossover hits defined the sound of a generation for African-Americans and white Americans alike. His music did much to lift up disadvantaged people and bridge the divide between races during the Civil Rights Era. And it inspired the careers of megastars Michael Jackson and Prince.
This mural celebrates his legacy as perhaps the most influential rock ‘n’ roll, funk and soul artist of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra
1537 Republic St, Cincinnati 45202
This mural, designed by local art superstar Jason Snell, celebrates the legacy of two-time heavyweight boxing champion Ezzard Charles, the “Cincinnati Cobra.”
Charles came to the Queen City at 9 years old. Beginning in his teenage years, Charles trained in West End gyms and quickly made a name for himself as a prize fighter. In 1949, he captured the world heavyweight title; the next year, he successfully defended it against the formidable Joe Louis.
Following his Hall of Fame boxing career, Charles became a jazz musician and advocate for education. He spent the remainder of his life in Cincinnati. The city even named a street for him — Ezzard Charles Way. And this mural, ArtWorks’ 100th, marked an important milestone in the Cincinnati mural program.
