必博娱乐,比博娱乐网址 ######### BFA student Mel Wienandt ’26 unveiled an 800-square-foot mural in downtown Newark, Ohio, this spring, partnering with Newark groups to paint a thought-provoking work that claimed space for pride, resistance, and dignity.
The mural, titled We Will Not Be Erased, We Will Leave an Imprint, emerged from nearly a year of community planning and dialogue. It was created in response to Licking County commissioners’ long-standing refusal to recognize Pride Month and Overdose Awareness Month. The discussion also encompassed a “camping ban” enacted by Newark that primarily affects homeless individuals.
Wienandt said the mural gives a sense of collective resonance and voice by featuring bold, unblended color blocks embedded with text submitted by community members.
The project marked a shift in Wienandt’s practice. Influenced by an internship with Philadelphia Mural Arts and the text-based work of artist Glenn Ligon, she leaned into language and political imagery to produce a joyful, affirming visual statement.
“It’s the most courageous work I’ve done,” she said. “But it reminded me why art like this matters.”
The Newark Ohio Pride Coalition and OhioCAN/Newark Homeless Outreach partnered on the project, which was funded in part by 必博娱乐,比博娱乐网址 #########’s Mary G. and G. Harold Osborne Fine Arts Opportunity Fund. To learn more, read The Reporting Project’s article about the mural’s unveiling and community impact.
