Storybook Mural Adds Color to Community
There’s a new public art installation adding color and vibrancy to the corner of 5th and Washington Streets in Marietta, thanks to the Marietta Main Street Public Art Committee. Designed by local artist Alaina Pellett, the vinyl mural wraps the 6’ tall electrical box with intricate storybook scenes that were hand-illustrated in colored pencil.
“My design was inspired by the location,” said Pellett. “It’s located near the public library and Washington Elementary School and as a kid I spent a lot of time in the library. I made my design based off stories I read as a kid that I felt a lot of people could relate to. I also drew inspiration from I Spy books and put easter eggs in each illustration!”
The idea for the project originated two years ago when Margaret Lazer, a member of the Public Art Committee, noticed the city had installed a large utility box at the intersection. “We thought it would be a fun public art project and a great location right next to the school, playground, and library,” said Bobby Rosenstock, committee chair.
Rosenstock said the committee wanted to work with an emerging artist for this project. “We approached recent Marietta High School graduate, Alaina Pellett. The committee came up with the story book theme and Alaina did a fantastic job creating the illustrations,” he said. “I pass this box daily walking my daughter to school and have already seen kids searching for all of the hidden book references in the artwork.”
Pellett said she loves how each panel of the electrical box has a different theme. “One side relates to water, one with cities or towns, one with air, and the last one is a forest,” she said. “Within each scene, there are different items or structures from the stories I chose.”
The mural was installed as a vinyl wrap by Jordana Bungard of West Side Sign Co. The final panel was installed on Monday.
Pellett is happy to see her work on display in the community. “I’m excited about my work being on display, but it’s also very surreal for me! When I was younger, I was always inspired by the public art I saw popping up around me. Even thought I hadn’t met the artists behind the work, I was immediately inspired by them and thought it would be cool to have my work displayed someday, too.”
A junior attending Ohio University, Pellett describes her style as bright, colorful, and full of detail with thicker outlines. “A lot of my art consists of putting things together in a surrealistic way.” Pellett is studying Studio Art with a concentration in Art Therapy and a minor in Psychology.
The mural installation was funded in part by the Marietta Community Foundation, with funds from the Stanton W. Brock Art Discovery Fund, the Rutter Family Charitable Fund, the Joy Ray Fund, the Doing Good Today, Tomorrow, Together Fund, the William A. & Prudence A. Fields Charitable Fund, and the Binkley Charitable Fund.
“The objective of our public art projects is to enrich and invigorate our public spaces, fostering a stronger sense of place and community identity,” said Jen Tinkler, Executive Director of Marietta Main Street. “The project’s proximity to the school and library offers families an engaging opportunity to interact with both art and children’s literature.”
Learn more about the Marietta Main Street Public Art Committee and ways to support public art installations in Marietta by visiting www.mariettamainstreet.org/public-art.