The Process

In July and August, there were many open workdays and workshops that took place throughout the month. Hosted by the Kalamazoo Literacy Council and Maya James with Edison Resident Scholars, resident scholars and community stakeholders were invited to contribute to a lasting piece of local art. Maya James, along with a dedicated group of volunteers—predominantly women, elders, mothers, and neighborhood stakeholders—came together to bring the community's vision to life. They carefully blocked out the majority of the colors and meticulously outlined each "tile" to reflect the diverse input and feedback gathered from residents. The chosen color scheme embodies the rich culture, natural beauty, hardworking spirit, and playful energy that define the neighborhood. This collective effort aims to create a mural that resonates with the community's values and aspirations. Soon, the mural will be further enhanced with the addition of an extensive hopscotch and foursquare area, inviting even more interaction and joy.

Here is a selection of photos from Michael Burrill and his drone from the Kalamazoo Literacy Council:

In June, there were many open workdays and workshops that took place throughout the month. Hosted by the Kalamazoo Literacy Council and Maya James with Edison Resident Scholars, resident scholars and community stakeholders were invited to contribute to a lasting piece of local art. Participants began by cleaning the area and priming the surface. The street needed at least two layers of thick KILZ Adhesive Primer to prepare the area for painting. The process took several weeks, with a heavy emphasis on cleaning, weeding, and leaf-blowing the area to remove excess dirt, which could create cracks in the surface if painted over. As the priming process continued, the artist plotted her design, incorporating input from Edison residents and stakeholders from the beginning of the mural-making process. The next step is to outline the mural, map out which part of the art goes where, and begin the color-blocking process.

Here is a selection of photos from the Photo Voice project by Tyesha and Robin Simpson from workshops in June:

On May 23, 2024 from 6pm to 7:30pm the Literacy Lane Mural Project held its first workshop. Hosted by Maya James with Edison Resident Scholars, resident scholars and community stakeholders were invited to contribute to a lasting piece of local art. Participants took a tour of the area, gave design input and then painted rocks, which will be placed along the trail or around the play area, adding a personalized touch to the Play Street mural. This workshop set the intention and foundation for a beautiful, community-driven finishing touch to the mural, symbolizing collective creativity and unity. We came together to leave our mark and be part of the journey to complete this vibrant neighborhood landmark. Additionally, we took a guided tour of the space and captured before photos of the dead end on Bryant Street, which we plan to transform. During our tour, we noticed evidence of illegal dumping and even deterred a car that came to the dead end with the intention of dumping in the natural area beside Portage Creek, where Literacy Lane will be. The next step is to clean the space and prime the mural project, preparing for the vibrant artwork that will soon bring the area to life. 

Here is a selection of photos from the Photo Voice project and Jeri Love from this workshop: