Murals and other forms of public art can be found in many cities around the world and have the potential to bring many benefits to the communities they are in. They can convey messages and inspire social change, foster connection or simply just add a touch of creativity and sparkle to a building.
Studies even show that public art has the power to boost feelings of happiness, joy and combat feelings of social isolation. These effects are further enhanced when community members are able to participate in a community-made mural.
Birdie Books, located in Westerville, is one of a few buildings in the city that has been decorated with paintings, designs, and artwork.
A bookshelf, moon, stars, flowers and sunlight are just a few of the many elements that decorate the walls outside of Birdie Books.
“It’s really welcoming and bright,” said Zoe Gehring, a worker at the store, referring to the outside of the store. “We wanted to enhance it a lot more and do more, and bring more color over to this side of the building since we’re kind of tucked away over here.”
Gehring also mentioned how art can be really impactful, especially for books, as it can show themes or what a book may stir up for a reader.
As art can present themes and messages within books, they can also be used to convey messages and inspire social change. Some students at Otterbein have seen the benefits of it through studying the arts.
“For me, it’s self expression,” senior Maizie King said. “It's a way to turn my thoughts in my brain into something physical.”
King has been an athlete her whole life, but art has always held importance for her. She emphasized how powerful it can be and the importance of creativity.
Sometimes, art can be so powerful that it has the power to break down borders and inspire connection. Public art also makes art accessible to everyone and can speak to larger issues.
For example, when Americans were divided during The Great Depression, art was used to bring people together as well as make it more accessible to all. During the time when the New Deal was rolled out, numerous artists of all kinds were funded and/or employed, ranging from musicians, to writers, actors, artists, photographers and more. Not only did public art help to make art more accessible to individuals on a larger scale, but it also helped to bring people together, despite their differences.
Not only does art brighten cities with a touch of creativity and lightness, but murals and all forms of public art can create a sense of belonging, community and excitement. Art can also be created with certain messages in mind, and some works are specifically made to speak to those issues in a creative way. Murals in particular can take something that was once plain and create something very unique and special to a city.
Perhaps one of the most notable impacts of public art, however, is how each work can have the potential to both build and foster connections between all walks of life around the world. At a time when many are divided, public art has the power to inspire unity and bring people together.
