July 15, 2024 –The city of Decatur, in collaboration with the Decatur Arts Council (DAAC), are creating a mural at Johns Hill as part of the Jasper Street Corridor revitalization. This project is part of a larger effort to enhance the area through place-making art.
The mural, designed by local artist Nick Smith, is the first in a series of planned artworks. The current piece measures 20 x 50 feet and includes designs of schoolyard games like hopscotch and a large target on the parking lot pavement.
The design process involved significant input from John’s Hill Magnet School students, staff, and the local community. The mural aims to reflect how the school community and the broader neighborhood feel about their school and the Jasper Street corridor.
Jerry Johnson of the Decatur Arts Council said selecting the right paint was a major challenge. Initially, exterior paint was considered, but with the help of the city of Decatur staff, they determined that a specific type of paint designed for pavement and parking lots was necessary. Matching the artist’s colors with the paint company’s offerings also proved difficult but was ultimately successful.
Painting in hot weather presented another challenge. The heat made the surface and the paint extremely hot, and the paint dried quickly, complicating the process. To mitigate this, the team sometimes met early on Sunday mornings to paint.
“I’ve always been a fan of public art. One of things I love about public art is it adds splashes of color around the community” said Jerry Johnson executive director of the DAAC.
This mural project is just the beginning of a broader initiative to revitalize Jasper Street, with future plans to expand the artwork throughout the entire parking lot and beyond.
By: Isaiah Bradford
