Dearborn

Brian Lacey

<div>ZAP! Art Project, a partnership between the <a href="https://www.downtowndearborn.org/">West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority</a>, <a href="https://dearborncommunityfund.org/">Dearborn Community Fund</a>, and <a href="https://www.padzieskigallery.org/">Padzieski Gallery</a>.&nbsp;<br><br>The ZAP! Art Project transformed three electrical utility boxes in downtown’s Wagner Park, taking the necessary but, say, boring pieces of infrastructure and turning them into works of art. The artists gathered on the day of Friday, Sept. 10 2021, to paint their public art works, applying layers of color atop the standard utility green.</div>

ZAP! Electrical Box Mural 

Wetiko

<div><strong>New Mural to Inspire the Dearborn Community<br></strong><br></div><div>Wetiko was brought in by Brome Modern Eatery Owner, Sam Abbas to work with the City of Dearborn on this wall in Pocket Park off Michigan Avenue. The mural is close to 3,000 sq/ft and consists of inspired eyes peering off into a collage of flowers and geometric shapes.&nbsp;</div>

Pocket Park Mural 

Samar Salam

<div>Celebrating Dearborn: A Vibrant Community What started out of a small storefront in Dearborn’s Southend in 1971 to create a safe and supportive space for the Arab immigrant, is now an expansive organization that reaches far beyond Southeast Michigan, helping empower people and communities from all backgrounds. While we at ACCESS are humbled to serve across city and state lines, we cannot forget to honor our roots. Dearborn, with its rich culture, long history, and vibrant community, is our first home and we are honored to celebrate it in the most exquisite and creative ways.<br><br></div><div><strong>A New Avenue for Honoring Communities: Public Murals<br></strong><br></div><div>&nbsp;Public art has become popularized in recent years due to its creative way of highlighting aspects of the communities it’s home to. A large public mural offers much more than a pleasing sight to see; it inspires thoughtful dialogue and engages locals and visitors alike, encourages economic development due to increased foot traffic at surrounding businesses, and it most importantly showcases the beautiful history, diversity, and resilience of the community.&nbsp;<br><br></div><div>&nbsp;<br><br></div><div><strong><em>In paying tribute to our roots in Dearborn, ACCESS is commissioning a beautiful mural that portrays the diverse and culturally rich nature this strong and vibrant community has carried throughout its history. The outdoor mural will be painted on Masri Sweets’ wall, next to Fordson High School. These two local strongholds have been serving the community for years on a main street in the center of East Dearborn, a hub that attracts many visitors. The Mural will draw newcomers to the city along with usual visitors who will have a new avenue for appreciating Dearborn’s history and culture in this creative illustration.<br></em></strong><br></div><div>&nbsp;<br><br></div><div><strong>An Artist of our Own: Samar Salam&nbsp;<br></strong><br></div><div>Samar Salam is a talented artist specializing in painting and murals; she grew up in Lebanon and immigrated to Dearborn seven years ago. She followed in her grandfather’s footsteps, who created murals in Lebanon years ago. Her work is bold and engaging with bright colors, intricate patterns, and complex architecture, which makes her the perfect candidate to capture Dearborn’s special essence.<br><br></div>

ACCESS Community 50 years Mural 

POP Design Team

Boundless Imagination

Biz Drouillard

ZAP! Electrical Box Mural

Becca Simmons

Zap! Electrical Box Mural

Shadia Derbyshire

Zap! Electrical Box Mural 

<div>2022 POP Design Student Seam members, led by Sunshine Durant, the guest artist known as Midwest Anthony, and Padzieski Gallery curator Sasha Corder, included: Maren Kerr, 18, of Allen Park; Dearborn residents Lauren Boyce, 15, Danya Jamalaldin, 17, Isabela Sierzputowski, 15, Gwen Zonca, 17, and Grace Schock, 16; Yasmin Gonzalez, 17, of Lincoln Park; and Eliana Pettigrew, 17, of Wyandotte.<br><br>"Team member Pettigrew said the mural’s background contains plants native to Michigan, to symbolize communities like the ones they live in.&nbsp; “Everyone is different, but everyone is vibrant and beautiful and important to that community, and everyone gives back and works together,” she said. Pettigrew said the central figure of the mural, a girl, is a community nurturer. “She gives back to her community by replenishing the rest of the ecosystem with the water that’s coming down from the bowl,” she said. Pettigrew said the bowl represents a kintsugi bowl, the Japanese art of repairing pottery by bonding the broken pieces together with lacquer mixed with a powdered precious metal.&nbsp; “We wanted that to represent the idea of something that is still useful to the community,” she said. “A vessel that was broken but doesn’t try to hide its faults, but celebrates them instead and is stronger for that.” - Sue Suchyta<br><br>This was supported supported by the Dearborn Community Fund and its sponsors. For more information on the POP program and the Dearborn Community Fund, go to dearborncommunityfund.org/community-projects/pockets-of-perception.</div>

Replenish

Rick Brown

<div>The project is a partnership between the Downtown Development Authority, the Padzieski Gallery and the Dearborn Community Fund.&nbsp;<br><br>Corder said the artist, Rick Brown of Detroit, took a lot of cues from the DDA brand to incorporate into the mural.&nbsp;</div><div>“They created all these symbols for connectivity and ingenuity and togetherness that really symbolize what Dearborn is and does in these areas,” she said. “So, the artist took that and included that in his design.”&nbsp;</div><div>Corder said the design is reminiscent of textile patterns, as well.<br><br></div>

Wagner Park Community Mural 

<div>“Rouge River Rebirth” depicts the colorful blending of Dearborn’s history, industry and ecology over the years. The POP team chose to use a palette of bright, bold colors that add to the impact of the mural, which covers the entire south side of the Fish Market building.<br><br></div><div>To learn more about the POP program and the DCF, visit dearborncommunityfund.org.</div><div><br>Project Directors: Mohamad Bazzi &amp; Sunshine Durant&nbsp;<br>Guest Artists: Kyle Irving &amp; Brian Lacey<br>The 2018 POP Student Design Team; Sukayna Davanzo, Amar Haidar, Isabella Hall, Mohammed Hassan, Kareem Nassar, Nathan Rudolph, Manal Said, Nawal Said and Georgia Ziegler. Local artist Aimee Chorkey assisted.</div>

Rouge River Rebirth

<div>My “American Exchange” mural, in the wonderful neighborhood of East Dearborn. Dearborn has a pretty interesting and wild history to say the least. It was a huge humbling-blessing to be asked to paint a mural here. In doing so, tailoring the piece to pay homage to it’s rich, culturally diverse inhabitants!<br>-Brian Lacey<br><br>This mural was sponsored by the Dearborn Community Fund.</div>

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