Project principals
› Partners: Southeastern Diesel, New City Fellowship Church, AIM Center and Mark Making.› Workshop teachers: Elena Hatch, Frances McDonald, Judy Mogul and Alicia Sanders.› Lead artist: Rodrick McGee.› Tank primers: Braylon Davis, Amari Johnson and Shemari McGibben.› Tank painters: Robert Waters, Scott Hammond, Rodrick McGee, Shariece Hayes, Elaine Epstein, Miriam Prepodnik and Kathryn Wright.
“Flag on the Two Three,” a community art project that makes use of a recycled diesel tank, will be unveiled Friday morning, Dec. 2, on East 23rd Street.
The idea began with Mike Holtzhower, general manager of Southeast Diesel Inc., which specializes in diesel engine repair and parts. Holtzhower was interested in beautifying the neighborhood around the business, beginning with his own street frontage.
Holtzhower contacted public arts agency Mark Making about transforming an old diesel tank on the property into a painted “sculpture” that would be installed at the corner of East 23rd Street and South Orchard Knob Avenue. He envisioned an image that would take its inspiration from the American flag.
Officials with Mark Making began the creative process by offering workshops on designing individual cut paper compositions to 25 participants from AIM Center, which provides psychiatric rehabilitation services, and the GLAD program, a children’s mentoring ministry (Glenwood Learning Adventure Days) at New City Fellowship Church.
Holtzhower selected as the winning design a composition created by AIM Center member Rodrick McGee.
McGee then met several times with Mark Making staff to transfer the design to the tank. AIM Center members painted the tank following McGee’s design.
The unveiling will take place at 10 a.m. at Southeast Diesel, 2105 S. Orchard Knob Ave. at East 23rd Street.
For more information, call 423-605-5257 or visit www.MarkMaking.org.