L.A. Parker: Trenton mural artist to make literal street art
The gift of perspective may be the desire of savants, chess players and pool sharks but artists head the list for frames of references.
Leon Rainbow, a local artist with hundreds of streetscapes and productions under his thumb, experiences a new sensation Saturday as part of a collaborative effort with Trenton Health Team and Street Plans. Rainbow and volunteers will paint intersections near North Montgomery St. and Southard St., both locations near city public schools.
The message for drivers to slow down and watch out for pedestrians will be painted onto road surfaces. Rainbow voiced excitement about a new experience to “Paint on the ground. Wow, it’s something that I have never done before. And in Trenton? There’s a lot of space on the ground that’s available. It’s the first time I’ve done something like this. It’s great to be doing something new,” Rainbow said.
“Since I was brought into the project, my mind has been thinking about painting on basketball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, things like that. Large scale ground murals. Street Plans Collaborative did most of the tactical urbanism work regarding traffic easing to make life safer for pedestrians. The two intersections we’re doing were identified as (problematic).”
“The artistic challenges will be trying to get it all scaled on the ground. The design was kind of easy because I did the digital work on a computer. I’m so used to working with paint vertically and working on a surface vertically. It’s going to be interesting to try and figure all of this out.”
Founded in Miami Beach in 2009, The Street Plans Collaborative is an award winning urban planning, design, and research-advocacy firm with offices in Miami, New York City, and San Francisco. The Collaborative strives to create better streets and better places.
Rainbow has worked with Trenton Health Team on other projects including an antismoking campaign and a pushback against sugary drinks.
Rainbow spoke Thursday evening at the Levitt Amp Music Series presented by Trenton Downtown Association which features graffiti art productions on a wall across from Mill Hill Park located on East Front St. The popular city artist expressed anticipation.
“Can’t wait until Saturday,” Rainbow said. “We’re so used to seeing art on walls or canvasses. It’s going to an interesting perspective to see all those bright colors and the design under our feet. It’s going to be cool and right near the school. I’m hoping the street mural gets people to slow down. I hope the kids like it.”
To volunteer or learn more, email Matthew Broad at Trenton Health Team or call 609337-4040.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@ Trentonian.com.