2011 Art Projects:  “Image-Building”

As an innovative approach to neighborhood revitalization, Community Building Partnership of Stark County, Inc. committed to partnering local professional artists and CBP’s Healthy Neighborhoods Coordinators (community organizers) as a major strategy in our revitalization efforts in the City of Canton (specifically in Summit and NEAR neighborhoods).  This overall concept allowed for a “One Artist, One Neighborhood” approach enabling artist inspired projects to be completed in targeted neighborhoods within Summit and NEAR.

The goal of our efforts was to involve and engage residents from each targeted area throughout the art process to define the image of their neighborhood in an artistic form with a clear emphasis on healthy neighborhood outcomes.  The artist’s role was to assist the residents in capturing what “image” best represented their neighborhood.   These art projects are defined as long standing, physical improvements revolving around image building with resident involvement at the core of the project.  This investment into neighborhoods is also a strong tool in raising the real estate market values in our targeted areas and throughout the City as a whole.

Here is an overview of each project:

Targeted Neighborhood: Crystal Park

Project Location:  2314 15th Street NE

Project Name: TREE of LIFE and GROWTH

Project Description: Kevin Anderson (artist) of Anderson Creative created this tree made of aluminum tiles which will be engraved by residents (past and present) representing Life and Growth in the neighborhood.

Click here to learn more about Anderson Creative

Targeted Neighborhood: Fulton Parkside

Project Location: Vacant lot next to 815 Brown Ave NW

Project Name: Mother’s Memorial Garden

Project Description: Blu Lewis (artist) created this tranquil destination garden that will display the favorite flowers and inspirational saying of mothers (past and present) from the neighborhood.

Targeted Neighborhood: The Boulevards

Project Location:  19th St NE and Edwards Ave NE

Project Name: Hearts, Hands and Homes

Project Description: Vicki Boatright (artist) of BZTAT created four images representing a community with a rich industrial history that is full of diversity and growing and thriving towards the betterment of Canton.

Click here to learn more about BZTAT

Targeted Neighborhood: Top of Summit

Project Location: NE Corner of 10th St NW and Fulton Rd NW

Project Name: The Great Wall of Summit

Project Description: Michele Waalkes (artist) created this mural to be painted on a 150’ retaining wall. The mural represents a progression from the neighborhood as a whole to the talents of residents in the neighborhood.

Click here to learn more about Michele Waalkes

Targeted Neighborhood: West Park

Project Location: North entrance of Monument Park along 12th Street NW

Project Name: Suspend

Project Description: Local artist, Deloris Angeli, owner of Planet Et Art oversaw the renovation of an art sculpture that has some history to Canton.  At one time, “Suspend” was housed at the Cultural Center, as well as in the middle of Downtown Canton.  It was found by Councilman Greg Hawk and Deloris Angeli and taken to the West Park Neighborhood Association as a potential art project for their neighborhood.

These projects were funded by: