By AMY ADAMS
news@readthereporter.com
A few social media posts on Thursday, Aug. 10 created a buzz among some Westfield residents who voiced confusion and raised concerns about the word “DEMO” being spray painted over part of the mural on the building at 101 S. Union St., which was already being demolished.
More than a decade ago, the Grand Junction Task Force held a design competition to select an artist to create a mural on the north wall of what was then Union Street Flowers and Gifts owned by Dave and Becky Weiss. The task force selected Blice Edwards, Inc., of Indianapolis. Founding artists Christopher Blice and Jon Edwards have installed art projects from San Francisco to Orlando, including the marouflage mural in the party room at the Westfield location of Titus Bakery.
This photo, taken shortly after the installation of “Westfield Blossoms” in 2011, shows the bright colors of the original artwork. (Photo provided)
Though the artists could not be reached for comment, according to bliceedwards.com, they worked with a 20-member volunteer group and designed a “removable sculptural mural so that the pieces can be removed when State Highway 32 is expanded.”
Though the mural had faded significantly in the last few years causing some community members to view it as an “eyesore” that had outlived its time, others expressed a desire to see it saved, faded or not.
Upon reading comments on social media regarding the fate of the mural, employees of both Indiana Department of Transportation and the City of Westfield quickly reached out to the necessary officials to ensure that any sculptural portions of the mural that could be removed from the brick prior to demolition would be.
Westfield City Councilmember Cindy Spoljaric contacted Westfield Chief of Staff Jeremy Lollar and encouraged him to make sure the city saved whatever parts of the installation could be salvaged.
Within 24 hours, INDOT came out Friday afternoon, Aug. 11, to collect the lower portions of the mural. They were also able to remove the limestone monument sign from the building that reads “DRVGS.”
INDOT not only salvaged sculptural parts of the art installation but also the monument stone from the building that was once Westfield Pharmacy. (Photo provided)
“It really shows our flexibility and that INDOT is more than happy and willing to listen to what people are saying,” said INDOT Public Relations Director Kyleigh Cramer. “It shows our partnership with the City of Westfield – state and local facilities working together, even if it’s a mural, not a street.”
City workers followed up Saturday morning by taking down the upper pieces.
“We are fortunate that the City of Westfield certainly cares,” Spoljaric said.
By last Monday morning when the demolition crew resumed work, only the painted ribbons and rays of light of the mural remained, ironically representing Westfield as a crossroads, a “Grand Junction.”
The building at 101 S. Union St. came down last week. (Photo provided)
Unveiled during Westfield Rocks the Fourth in July 2011, “Westfield Blossoms” featured more than 50 individual sculptural pieces portraying Westfield’s past, present, and future.
The mural, which is still listed as a public arts display on IndyArtsGuild.org, featured a large, brightly-colored flower comprised of abstract petals paying homage to important aspects of the city such as U.S. Highway 31 and the city’s founding in 1834.
A black and yellow Quaker star at the center of the mural, along with a lantern and a north star, pointed to the city’s founding and its role in the Underground Railroad. Football, baseball, and biking images depicted change to come with the building of Grand Park and the Monon Pedestrian Bridge.
Bare footprints led into the design from the lower left, whereas footprints coming out on the upper right included dress shoes and running shoes symbolizing the advancement and progress we see in Westfield today.
“Change is never easy for a lot of people,” said Westfield Director of Communication Chris Proffitt. “You have a lot of people who remember what downtown Westfield used to look like. I get where they are coming from, but I always encourage them to remember that this is going to be a new beginning.”
Like the individual symbols of the mural that have been preserved, the ideas they represent will continue to guide Westfield’s footprints into the future.
As of now, the “DRUGS” stone and the sculptural elements will be headed to the Westfield Washington Historical Society for safe storage and future display, according to Archivist and Collections Manager Michael Kobrowski.
While there are no definite plans at this time for the mural, and experts will have to examine the feasibility of refurbishing the pieces, a variety of ideas for ways to reinstall or repurpose the artwork will be considered. If you have suggestions, visit 32connects.com and click on the conversation bubble in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.