There could soon be an effort to beautify areas of Benton Harbor with murals. At this week’s city commission meeting, Anna Russo-Sieber with ARS Arts and Culture Center in Benton Harbor and Detroit-area artist John Sauve made their initial pitch to commissioners. They had no details; just a proposal that murals be painted on buildings throughout the city. Sieber told WSJM News public art has been shown to be a boost for communities.
“It brings visitors to the community, just like our public art project,” Siebert said. “If you have public art, you put a face on a community.”
Sauve has worked on murals in Detroit, and tells us they get people excited for where they live.
“I’ve seen it revitalize entire communities,” Sauve said. “Whether it’s public art or murals considered as public art, the idea is the more you put into a neighborhood, it’s proven, the more people realize you actually care.”
City Commissioner Juanita Henry told the presenters a mural program could be great as long as it includes local artists and respects local culture. Sieber and Sauve said they’ve been talking with Mayor Marcus Muhammad about the idea, and will be back later with more information.
