Downtown Howell: The murals are coming! The murals are coming!

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Yes, dreams do come true.

About a year ago, I wrote this post about the amazing mural project in Cincinnati. Everywhere in downtown Cincinnati, it seemed, were huge and gorgeous murals, each telling a story about the city, or honoring some of its more beloved citizens. The effect was stunning. The murals breathed colorful and creative life into areas of the city that were in need of some attention and love.

So enamored of the project was I that, with the magic of Photoshop, I wrote a column and designed a few murals for Howell.

You can read that column and see a lot of the Cincinnati murals by clicking here.

And now, Howell’s getting some new murals. Some big, beautiful murals in very public spaces that are going to be created by real mural artists, not by Photoshop hacks like me.

I can hardly wait.

The murals are coming as part of this year’s Howell Art Project, which is running May 13-18 in downtown Howell.

The event, a project of Howell Main Street Inc., is designed to “bring the community together in transforming spaces and further beautifying the town.”

The mural locations and artists are as follows:

Heart of Howell Building at 120 W. Grand River Ave.

Photo of a Sick Fisher mural, courtesy of Howell Art Project.org.

Artist is Sick Fisher, born Joseph Nicholas Fisher in 1985 in Weymouth, Mass., but raised in Sebastian, Fla., spending many summers here in Howell. After graduating from The Florida State University in 2008, Fisher moved to Chicago in 2009 to continue his work as an artist.

Fisher works in large scale murals as well as on a variety of smaller surfaces that include canvas, paper, wood, plastic, metal, brick, and glass. Based in Humboldt Park, most of Sick Fisher’s work can be seen on California Avenue, as well as up and down Milwaukee Avenue in Logan Square. Other neighborhoods with Fisher’s public work are Rogers Park, Lakeview, Evanston, Downtown, and West Loop.

In addition to his commercial endeavors, Fisher’s true passion is upgrading neglected spaces such as abandoned storefronts and walls with site-specific murals or designs.

Check him out: www.sickfisherart.com, Instagram: @sickfisher, Facebook: @sickfisherart

A Sheefy McFly mural.

Walnut Street Marketplace, behind 205 N. Walnut St.

Artist is Sheefy McFly, a muralist born and raised in Detroit. An alumni of the College for Creative Studies, he is also known for his work with Murals in the Market, Art Prize, and the Red Bull House of Art Alumni. He’s completed murals in Chicago commissioned by the Pure Michigan campaign, and is part of a mural residency program sponsored by the City of Detroit, focusing on creating 10 murals in various neighborhoods throughout the city. His art style is both bold and bright.

Check him out: www.sheefymcfly.com, Instagram: @sheefymcfly, Facebook: @sheefymcfly313

Photo of an example of Kelly Beacome’s art, courtesy of Howell Art Project.org.

Kerry’s Shear Magic Hair and Nail Salon, 732 S. Michigan Ave.

Artist is Kelly Beacome of Center Street Studios, a self-taught artist from Howell. He uses a variety of mediums to create his pieces. His greatest influence in neo-Impressionist and he uses pointillism in many of his pieces.

Beacome assisted in two of the murals currently found in downtown Howell — one along the parking lot off Center Street, and one behind 2FOG’s Pub. In 2018, he had a piece in the Howell Art Project, and he was the 2018 People’s Choice winner at Opera Art Live. Beacome will have assistance on his mural from local artist Cheyenne Bolin.

Check out Kelly Beacome and Cheyenne Bolin.

Here is the schedule of events for the Howell Art Project:

Monday, May 13: Muralists will be painting on their building walls.
Tuesday, May 14: Art While You Eat Experience. Jim Roth of Hell Creek Forge will be creating pieces forge in steel at the Livingston County Courthouse, which will become a community picnic setting while Food Truck Tuesday is open.
Wednesday, May 15: Howell High School students from he Advanced Arts Imaging Program will be creating crosswalk art on the 100 block of North Walnut Street.
Thursday, May 16: You can learn how to created 3D images on the pavement with expert chalk artist David Zion. He’s giving a hands-on afternoon experience that afternoon that is limited to the first 20 participants. (Rain date is Friday, May 17).
Friday, May 17: Muralists will be wrapping up their pieces. Set up for Saturday’s Food Truck Rally Celebration begins at 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 18: The Food Truck Rally Celebration runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Depot Parking Lot, behind 205 N. Walnut St. You can find more information at www.downtownhowell.org/food-truck-rally.

For more information, go to https://www.howellartproject.org/.

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Maria Stuart worked at The Livingston County Press/ Livingston County Daily Press & Argus as a reporter, editor and managing editor. These days, she runs The Livingston Post.

1 Comment

  1. I am disappointed that the side wall if Sefa’s (Family Dollar) was not chosen as a mural site,

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