The community murals painted on the brick walls around the EPB substation will soon feature 10 more local Chattanooga-area artists with displays on the fourth and final side of the downtown block.
Supported by EPB, the 2024 mural theme is "The Magic of Unity," and the artists are seeking to illustrate the possibilities of change when we work together as one, according to a news release from EPB.
Anonymous judges selected the artists who will be painting the newest mural artwork downtown. The artists picked for the paintings to be done on the wall running parallel to Douglas Heights Apartments are Christen McNelly, Jaclyn Lewis, Jerome Foster, Juanita Montgomery, Justin Butts, Karen Estes, Lexi D'Ambrosio, Olivia Reckert, Rea Shaw and Sofia Rudakevych, the release said.
(READ MORE: How Chattanooga's murals attract, create and promote business)
Murals completed over the past two years on the other three walls around the 10th Street substation honor Martin Luther King Jr., Chattanooga history and well-known Chattanooga community members.
"At EPB we value art and how it can impact the community we serve, especially when created by local artists whose work uplifts the history of our area," EPB Director of Residential Energy and Environmental Solutions Elizabeth Hammitt said in the release. "With the support of our community partners, we are able to provide a platform for artists to further their skills while also sharing their talents and vision with their community."
This mural project is supported by ArtsBuild, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, the city's Public Art Chattanooga program, the Association for the Visual Arts, Hunter Museum of American Art, Stove Works, River City Co., Chatt Foundation, Five Star Breaktime Solutions, Riverside Development LLC, the MLK Neighborhood Association and numerous MLK district businesses.
(READ MORE: Murals highlighting area's history transform EPB substation in downtown Chattanooga)
"Over the past four years, the 10th Murals Project has added vibrancy to the M.L. King Boulevard area by celebrating the history, traditions and culture of the area," James McKissic, president of ArtsBuild, said in the release.
The final murals will be revealed in June, according to EPB.
— Compiled by Dave Flessner