Michelle Tanguay (left), co-owner of The Mural People, poses Aug. 29 with muralist Zach Curtis and his Ford Mustang-inspired work-in-progress on the Nextgen Insurance Agency building at Allen Road and Cleveland Street as part of the Allen Park “Paint the Park” program.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – A mural celebration of local history and culture is coming to life downtown through a project sponsored the Downtown Development Agency and coordinated by The Mural People.
The “Paint the Park” program is a city-wide initiative to bring large scale public art to Allen Park, with each telling part of the story of the city’s history, culture and pride.
The full collection of eight murals will be on display during the city’s Made in Michigan Festival Sept. 12 to 13.
The first three murals completed were Kevin Burdick’s Detroit Lions-inspired mural on Alexander’s Dry Cleaners, artist Rick Malt’s eye-catching ocular-themed mural on Big Ben’s Comix Oasis, and muralist’s Zach Curtis’ Ford Mustang-inspired work on the Nexgen Insurance Agency building.
Other upcoming murals are Naomi Haverland’s work on Nuts Now; Beau Stanton’s painting on Haddix Electric; Belgian artist Kitsune Jolene’s mural on Tuccini Orthodontic Lab; a lush floral work by Ouizi on the Prestige Banquet Hall; and Kelly Golden’s creation on the Metropolitan Furniture Building.
The DDA hopes the murals will spark community pride, attract visitors and support local businesses.
Muralist Kevin Burdick’s Detroit Lions-inspired mural adorns Alexander’s Dry Cleaning on Allen Road.
“This is a new chapter for public art in Allen Park,” said Michelle Tanquay, co-founder of The Mural People LLC and festival curator. “We’re not just painting walls; we’re telling the stories of this city in a way that will last for decades.”
Curtis said the car mural is an ode to the city’s annual classic car shows that occur nearby.
He said the piece also pays tribute to the former movie theater while serving as an ode to Motor City car culture as well.
Curtis said he uses a doodle grid to sketch out a mural on a wall, then he uses his iPad to superimpose his design over the top of the grid.
He said after he gets the sketch on the wall he begins spraying the paint.
“At that point it becomes a massive coloring book and I turn into a little kid again and color it,” Curtis said.
He said the work in progress attracts a lot of visitors.
“They’re very supportive and they are always stopping by to say hi, chat me up or they are honking as they drive by,” Curtis said. “It’s really encouraging and it’s been a great time.”
For more information about the mural project go to paintthepark.com.
Muralist Rick Malt’s mural adorns Big Ben’s Comix Oasis on Allen Road.
Muralist Zach Curtis works on his Ford Mustang-inspired work-in-progress on the Nextgen Insurance Agency building at Allen Road and Cleveland Street as part of the Allen Park “Paint the Park” program.