Street Paintings on Pleasant
Photo Credit: Mike Hoeting
We did it!
On May 14, 2022 hundreds of people joined multiple artists to paint pavement murals along a half mile stretch of Pleasant Street, connecting people and two historic landmarks: Washington Park and Findlay Market.
Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded Art on the Streets and the City of Cincinnati a grant to create a mural on Pleasant Street, between Washington Park and Findlay Market. The New York Times published a feature article about this national competition and campaign. We received matching funding grants from ArtsWave, Devou Good Foundation, and the Over-the-Rhine Community Council.
We're working with lots of local artists!
Artists Pam Kravetz and Sidney Cherie Hilley are on board for mural design and community engagement, along with the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Rick Wolf is our artist manager.
In June 2021, we announced Art on the Streets Fellows for Pleasant Paints:
Lin Noelle
Skye High
TC Flowers
and Anh Tran.
In addition, Biz Young created video from the inspiration event, LD Nehls developed a creative image and animation to celebrate the project, Lizzy DuQuette created engaging signage for our inspiration event, Ryan Lewis created video from painting day—including drone video by Mike Hoeting, and Mikki Schaffner captured images.
In August 2021, we postponed most of the street painting for the health and safety of all. We painted one of the planned murals with the artist fellows. We'll be painting the rest of the street on May 14, 2022, starting at 9 am and going until we finish! Join us on Pleasant Street between Washington Park and Findlay Market with large murals at 14th Street, Liberty Street, Green Street, and Elder Street (by the market).
In 2022, our team included Pam Kravetz (lead artist), Sidney Cherie Hilley (engagement artist), and Rick Wolf (managing artist) plus 2022 Painting Artists:
Marcus Donaldson
Lizzy DuQuette
Margeaux Lim
LD Nehls
Lin Noelle
Hannah "Jonesy" Jones
James Reynolds
TC Flowers
and Anh Tran.
For Immediate Release: Cincinnati Awarded $25,000 Grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies for Art Project that Enhances the City and Improves Safety
July 23, 2020
Art on the Streets is thrilled to announce the award of a new grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to paint a series of murals on Pleasant Street in Over-the-Rhine that improve safety and bring vibrant arts to the city’s streets.
A joint proposal from Art on the Streets and the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation (DOTE) won the award in a competitive field of over 200 applications from cities across the country.
The public-private partnership is one of just 16 grantees of the new Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative, which supports cities using art and community engagement to improve street safety and revitalize public space.
“We’re thrilled that this prestigious award will make it possible for DOTE and Art on the Streets to work with artists and community residents to create a series of street murals along Pleasant Street to enhance the connection between two historic and beloved places that bring people together: Washington Park and Findlay Market,” said Margy Waller, founder of Art on the Streets.
The partners will announce the Street Paintings on Pleasant artists this summer and they will develop designs for the artwork with community residents in a series of public engagement activities this fall. The painting will occur in 2021.
Art on the Streets has managed multiple asphalt art projects as part of the nonprofit’s mission to support and encourage artists and arts organizations who create in public places, and those who work with residents to promote community building and equitable development goals.
DOTE has a long history of designing and constructing public areas that create a unique sense of place and support pedestrian activity. DOTE recently piloted a street calming initiative to create pavement murals as part of the Vision Zero initiative.
About Art on the Streets
Art on the Streets supports and encourages artists and arts organizations who create and perform in public places and those who work with residents to address community planning and equitable development goals. Art on the Streets is fiscally-sponsored by Cincinnati Development Fund. For more information follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter,
ABOUT BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in more than 570 cities and over 160 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.
Art on the Streets, local favorite artist Pam Kravetz, and area residents created a series of creative crosswalks on Main Street during Second Sunday on Main.