The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
New mural unveiled at Lorain Arts Council
“It is a message that means something to everyone in some way, shape or form.”
— Stephen Dargaj, program director for Gathering Hope House
Artists from the Lorain County Gathering Hope House, 1173 North Ridge Road, unveiled a mural Sept. 24 at the Lorain Arts Council.
The Arts Council and Gathering Hope House worked together to make the mural project a success, said Lorain Arts Council Executive Director Antonio Barrios.
“It was a situation where both groups wanted to come together to make something that both looked good and sent a powerful message,” Barrios said. “I feel like we have done that, and then some.”
Barrios said the support for the mural, located behind the Arts Council at 737 Broadway, was built by members of the Valor Home in Lorain.
“We had worked with them on painting a mural of their own,” he said. “So, they built this wood frame and mount that allowed the Hope House to have a place to paint a mural.
“It took a couple of weeks to build, but adds to the process and shows how much of a team effort this was.”
Stephen Dargaj, program director for Gathering Hope House, said the mural was started in March.
“We just finished it, so this a reveal months in the making,” Dargaj said. “With September being Suicide Awareness Month, this was the best time to reveal our ‘Recovery’ mural. We really take pride in the mural that was worked on by over 20 members of Gathering Hope House.”
The message of recovery is one that is encompassing, he said.
“It is a message that means something to everyone in some way, shape or form,” Dargaj said. “We’ve been helping people with a mental health diagnosis since 2005, so for us it’s that recovery someone goes through from that standpoint. The city of Lorain is itself going through a recovery of sorts, so it all depends on perspective.”
Tabatha Watson-Brown, a recovery specialist with the Gathering Hope House, was the lead artist on the project.
“It was a long process, but worthwhile when it was done,” Watson-Brown said. “It was great to see how everyone came together on the project. Everyone supported one another and made it possible.
“We wanted to make sure our mural stood out, and I think we did that. It is multi-colored, with a butterfly in the center, but clearly state ‘Recovery.’ We wanted the message to be clear to all who see it.”