Out of the box

The façade of the stairwell tower at the Employment Agency in Schwäbisch Hall now welcomes train passengers and passers-by with a vibrant, cheerful mural. “We wanted to create a colorful eye-catcher that represents diversity and young people, and the artists, together with local teenagers, have achieved this brilliantly,” says Elisabeth Giesen, Director of the Schwäbisch Hall–Tauberbischofsheim Employment Agency. The project was realized in cooperation with the City of Schwäbisch Hall, which commissioned local graffiti artist Frieder Simpfendörfer and freelance artist and graphic designer Michael Genter from Freiburg. “Just as we did with the outdoor gallery inside the stairwell tower, we wanted to actively involve the local community—more specifically, young people—in the creative process,” explains Ute-Christine Berger, Head of the Cultural Office of the City of Schwäbisch Hall. She adds: “I am delighted that another building façade in Schwäbisch Hall has been transformed into an attractive work of public art.” The project began with a workshop for young people at Heimbacher Hof. The participants—who, interestingly, were exclusively girls—worked together with Frieder Simpfendörfer to develop the central theme of “Love and Peace” and then translated it into an artistic concept. The result was a vibrant, colorful artwork that now forms the background of the completed mural. Michael Genter added the central motif, explaining: “Through my partner, who grew up in Schwäbisch Hall, I came to know and love the city. I was delighted when Frieder invited me to collaborate on this mural. Our goal was to create a large-scale artwork that reflects the friendliness, joy of life, and dynamism of both the people and the surrounding area.”