By Laura Bilson
For Charleston Gazette-Mail
Passersby on Washington Street West can’t miss the eight colorful murals that now line a metal fence beside the arts retail store Echo-Lit in the Elk City neighborhood of Charleston’s West Side.
The first round of the West Side ARTsPARK Mural Fence Project’s eight murals was installed in two sessions, on Aug. 14 and last Friday.
More than 15 muralists, Echo-Lit staff, and friends attached the murals to the fence in halves, helping each other move and smooth each panel.
Inspired by the themes of community and growth, many of these murals depict whimsical scenes of “critters” and nature.
On Friday evening, Cross Lanes artist Shaheem Chapman sat on a folding step ladder while touching up his mural. He said he hopes beautifying the space will change how people look at it.
“It brings out the corner,” Chapman said about the block where the murals are located along Washington Street West. “That’s what we’re looking for. Respect where you live and, you know, love it.”
The project is part of a larger plan to transform the lot next to Echo-Lit into a public art and event space. The West Side ARTsPARK plans to include native-plant greenspace and paved space for food truck access, as well as a play space for kids made of reclaimed logs.
The first round of murals was made as a part of the West Virginia Creative Network’s Ripple program. The murals were revealed to the public in March.
The second round of murals, funded by a grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, will include eight murals lining the inside of the fence.
On Monday, Echo-Lit owner Jeanne Stevenson said she shared the RFQ, or “Request for Qualifications,” for eight new muralists. Interested West Virginia artists may contact her at [email protected] or find her on social media.
“We especially welcome artists who don’t yet have public art experience,” Stevenson said, “as we love finding folks who are ready to jump into public art opportunities.”
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