Spectrum News 1  |  January 27, 2022

'It’s a labor of love for the community': Artist uses East Cleveland as her canvas

Mary Kay Thomas is an East Cleveland native who said she drives through her city knowing that this community could be much more.

“I drove down and just took pictures just videos of the buildings and that they were — they looked abandoned and all the broken glass,” Thomas said.

Thomas is a professional artist who sees the blighted spots in East Cleveland as an opportunity to create something beautiful.

Last summer, Thomas launched the “U and I of Euclid Ave." mural project designed to brighten and empower East Clevelanders and share stories of the area's rich and vibrant past. Her goal is to put at least 15 murals and art installations in special locations across the city.

  • Mary Kay Thomas launched a mural project designed to brighten the streets and empower residents of East Cleveland
  • Her goal is to put at least 15 murals and art installations in special locations across the city
  • The mural project is funded in part by Spaces and the Fowler Family Foundation

By Karlynn Wells, Spectrum News 1

Original Article

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