Artist Cleo Griffin is standing for photos with friends and family before her vibrant new mural “Radiant Revival” in Haynie’s Corner.
This mural was just celebrated by a news conference and ribbon-cutting event Thursday.
“Simple things like sunsets can bring so much life and excitement to the community, even if it's through a representation in a painting,” Griffin said.
Such paintings will now be the purview of the re-established Evansville Public Art Commission (EPAC) which Mayor Stephanie Terry said will help curate public art — like murals.
Right now, it’s not funded.
“We hope that we're able to get some of some dollars allocated to help support projects like the city-wide mural initiative and things like that,” she said. “So (I'm) really excited about the work, and we're just starting it this month.”
Griffin’s mural is on a private building, so such a project might receive guidance from the EPAC, but not be under its authority.
While EPAC has operated at least since 2005, it had been idle and is now restarting — and the “new” EPAC may choose to operate differently. The original website is currently down.
Previously, a primary function had been to maintain the safety of the public environment, and make sure pieces are safe at their location, and complement that location.
ARTSWIN Executive Director Anne McKim is on the commission. She suggests this will be a primary function of the EPAC. Mayor Terry said in the news conference that this fits into her core initiative or neighborhood revitalization.
According to a news release from Mayor Terry:
The newly reconvened Evansville Public Art Commission will provide oversight of the city’s public art collection and offer guidance on policies related to the acquisition, display, and maintenance of public artworks. Chaired by Sarah Schuler, Principal Architect at VPS Architecture, the Commission includes local artists, educators, and civic leaders dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Evansville.
This mural was a joint project between the City, Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association (HCADA) and the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) was $10,000, paid by the HCADA and neighborhood TIF funding.
McKim said public art can define a location, give character and create shared experiences, especially for people who frequent the neighborhood and live in the neighborhood.
“And so this mural is so lovely and is so representative of Hanie’s corner,” she said.
Griffin hopes her art and the new arts commission will encourage anyone to try art.
“That it encourages people just to continue to make art and to embrace what they can do with their hands, to embrace their own inner creativity that I feel like people tend to lose as they get older.”
This is her first public mural, and said that this prompted extra scrutiny of her work and abilities during the application process. The location also had to be changed from the original site to 58 Adams Avenue.
Once the location was established, the mural took a few weeks to render.
This new EPAC will likely define in detail what “public art” means. But McKim suggested that this is likely 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional pieces on city-owned property that cannot serve a practical purpose.
Pieces can be permanent, or semi permanent. Griffin’s mural should last about 15 years, she said.
EPAC has held at least one meeting, and McKim said it was mainly a review of what had been done in the past.
A news release by Mayor Terry is below
Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry joined the Haynie’s Corner Arts District Association (HCADA), the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana (ARTSWIN), and members of the community today for the official ribbon cutting of a new public mural in Haynie’s Corner — a vibrant celebration of local creativity that also marks the relaunch of the City’s Public Art Commission.
The event, held at 58 Adams Avenue, spotlighted Radiant Revival, a new mural by artist Cleo Griffin, whose colorful vision now adorns the southeast façade of the building. The mural was commissioned through a collaboration between HCADA and ARTSWIN to mark the tenth year of the First Fridays series.
The project was made possible through funds raised by HCADA and matched by a grant through the City’s Haynie’s Corner TIF district.
“This mural is more than a beautiful addition to Haynie’s Corner — it is a statement about who we are as a city,” Mayor Terry said. “Public art tells our story, sparks conversation, and transforms shared spaces into places of pride and connection. As we revitalize the Public Art Commission, we are reaffirming that art will be a defining part of our city’s future.”
The newly reconvened Evansville Public Art Commission will provide oversight of the city’s public art collection and offer guidance on policies related to the acquisition, display, and maintenance of public artworks. Chaired by Sarah Schuler, Principal Architect at VPS Architecture, the Commission includes local artists, educators, and civic leaders dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Evansville.
The commission’s relaunch and (Thursday’s) mural dedication reflect Mayor Terry’s commitment to Neighborhood Revitalization — one of her core administration priorities — and her belief in the power of public art to strengthen communities and elevate civic pride.
“It’s incredibly special to return home and leave a lasting, joyful mark on the neighborhood I love,” said artist Cleo Griffin. “As the world sometimes feels more gray, I hope this mural brings brightness and renewal to everyone who sees it.”
The Arts Council led the artist selection process in partnership with HCADA, engaging arts professionals and neighborhood stakeholders to bring the mural to life. Both organizations continue to champion community-centered arts programming across the region.
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