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Photo credit Sarah Goodyear via citylab.com |
Taking the lead of Chicago’s muralists, whose work received national publicity at the end of the 1960’s, cities across US saw the potential of powerful public imagery as murals were an important devise for perhaps even novice painters to express themselves and have a voice in their community.
- vintage advertisement – whether left the way it is, newly painted to depict a vintage look, or refurbished
- a current advertisement – such as an album release or a new show on television
- store names or signs
- murals noting location or direction to a business
- community art pieces
- graffiti murals
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Image by Commercial District Advisor |
The research further supports the impact of murals on local conditions. Murals help to avoid “dead zones” of nothingness on the walls, this in turn reminds pedestrians where they are and gives them a safe and inviting feeling (http://mds.marshall.edu/etd/492/, 2008). Also, evidence points out that graffiti murals are a cost effective way to keep surfaces free from vandalism and create visual cues to residents that the place they call home is desirable (Verel, 2013).
Seeing suggestions turned into action…
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Image from newyorktimes.com, Michael Craig-Martin, Art Production Fund |
In some communities, murals are a wonderful way to beautify the physical environment, keep surfaces graffiti free, which in turn decreases the perception of crime. A few years ago, our firm, together with LISC MetroEdge, completed a retail strategy analysis for La Casa de Don Pedro. Since then, our mural recommendation has driven a host of initiatives on the street, and this week La Casa is celebrating “The Gates Project”, which resulted in vibrant advertising murals on storefront gates.