Dublin Tunnel Mural

The Dublin Tunnel Mural was created in 2015 as a collaboration between Dublin Arts Council, ADAMH Board of Franklin County, ALTernative and the City of Dublin, intended to offer the public the opportunity to have open discussions about our triumphs and struggles. The purpose of opening this dialogue was to spread the message that treatment works and recovery happens. The project united local residents and businesses to develop a creative vision for the neighborhood.

The project began with a community meeting in April 2015 to gather ideas and inspirations for the mural. Students from Bailey Elementary School were asked to think about mural designs centered on a theme of healthy living, and they presented their concepts at that meeting. Many of their designs featured colorful fruits and vegetables, outdoor activities, and messages about health and community. ALTernative artists drew from these concepts and created several preliminary designs, expanding upon the idea of vegetables as a symbol of health by incorporating companion plants – different crops that grow best when planted together – to illustrate the importance of diversity and cooperation in a healthy community.

After the final design was selected, artists Jen and Jeremy Wood mapped out the mural. Using a projector and transparency sheets, the artists traced outlines of the mural onto the wall and created a “paint by numbers” scheme. The mural was then painted by more than 100 community volunteers over the course of several weeks.

Through this process, the Dublin community worked together to create a whimsical depiction of healthy living that will promote thoughts of diversity, collaboration and hope that will inspire all to embrace the differences of others so that the community can grow and thrive together.

For more information about the Dublin Tunnel Mural, visit dublinarts.org and click on the Art in Public Places tab.

Materials

Paint

Dates

Purchased: 2015
Installed: 2015