If you’ve taken a drive through Chattanooga in the last few months, you have probably noticed a surge in colorful, eye-catching street art. These imaginative additions not only beautify our already scenic city, but they also seek to inform, inspire, and bring people together for a common cause. Here, we’re taking a closer look at three brand-new murals and the innovative artists who brought them to life.
Change Starts In Your Own Backyard
The brainchild of artist Steffi Lynn and inspired by the stunning Cherokee National Forest, this vibrant mural – located on an exterior wall at Broad and Aquarium Street – was unveiled by Volkswagen in early 2021. The dynamic design features four native flowers to the Cherokee National Forest set against type declaring, “Change starts in your own backyard.” Volkswagen has been ramping up its conservation efforts in recent years, and this project, brought about in collaboration with The Conservation Fund, honors their efforts to enhance environmental learning in the community. The hope is that Chattanooga residents and visitors alike will be inspired by this mural to get outside and embrace the outdoors!
Lynn has made quite a name for herself with her quirky, colorful designs. See more of her work at instagram.com/haveanicedayy_/
Togetherness at the Kinley
Local artists Alecia Vera Buckles and Briah Gober have brightened up Chattanooga’s Southside district with a large-scale mural featuring 23 colors (taking five months of work and approximately 13 to 15 gallons of paint). Contracted by Vision Hospitality for the newly opened Kinley hotel – which has a mission to showcase the work of local female artists on its property – the mural, titled “Togetherness,” celebrates community and, of course, the concept of togetherness, although the final product is ultimately left up to the viewer’s interpretation. Viewers can find Togetherness on the brick exterior of the Kinley. This is the first collaboration between Buckles and Gober, and using Gober’s signature technique – the drip method – the duo was able to create something both unique and meaningful.
To learn more about the artists, visit their accounts at instagram.com/aleciavera/ and instagram.com/lovelyintoxication_/
Parkridge Stork Mural
A new mural dedicated to expectant mothers can be viewed in Parkridge East Hospital’s courtyard, just outside of the newly renovated Labor and Delivery unit called The Birth Place. Artist Kelsey Montague, known for her work on the “What Lifts You” wings murals (with locations in Chattanooga and Nashville), took on the project in hopes of bringing a smile to new moms’ faces as they embark on their new journey into motherhood. Depicting a stork carrying a cloth with ribbons hanging from its mouth, the whimsical mural symbolizes new life and baby delivery. Incorporating pinks and blues into the design is a subtle nod to the classic colors seen throughout an L&D unit.
Anyone taking a photo of the mural is encouraged to use hashtags #whatliftsyou and #itsaparkridgebaby on social media. Be sure to check out more of Montague’s creations at instagram.com/kelseymontagueart/
