New paint-by-numbers mural depicts Wellington Heights’ vision

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new Wellington Heights mural is breathing new life into residents’ vision for the neighborhood by handing them control of the paint brushes.

After several feedback sessions with neighborhood residents, the new mural completed Friday incorporates symbols of what Wellington Heights means to them. But what’s more is that their own buy-in with paint strokes are what helped make the vision on the former Paul Engle Center, 1600 Fourth Ave. SE, a reality.

Covering about 350 square feet of bright background colors, the paint-by-numbers scheme depicts well-known neighbors, community goals and themes that surfaced in surveys: love, joy, hope and peace.

“This neighborhood has not always been perceived as a peaceful place, but they want to encourage people to have a peaceful approach to the place they live,” said Christina Farrell, a teaching artist who led the project. “We want this mural to be a look at now and into the future.”

With bright blue, yellow, orange and green, the mural conveys a sense of reverence through vignettes of neighborhood figures and their encounters with each other. Wellington Heights architecture and gardens set the background along with objects of importance to the community sprinkled in — basketball hoops, swings sets and a diploma.

The mural, commissioned by the Wellington Heights Community Church that bought the building a year ago, is part of the church’s Building Hope campaign launched last year to raise over $300,000 for a physical home in its namesake neighborhood. The building, historically known as the W.J. Burton House, was previously named after late poet and Cedar Rapids native Paul Engle.

In 2013, the Paul Engle Center for Neighborhood Arts sold the building to the Affordable Housing Network. With a broader mission, the arts association is now known as the Paul Engle Association for Community Arts.

The new mural, a replacement for a mural the Paul Engle Center installed in 2010, embraces the community-first vision that the new church owner and the community arts association share.

“I hope that people would know this is not a God forsaken place, and treat it like holy land. Through that paradigm shift, I think things will get better.” — the Rev. Keeyon Carter, pastor of Wellington Heights Community Church.

“This mural was designed in response to how the community saw themselves and their hopes. It represents vibrancy, passion and the future of the community,” said Kimberly Dukes, board member of the arts association. “That’s what we’re really excited about. The church and PEACA have an overlapping mission for the community to thrive."

They hope the mural helps that vision thrive with a constant visual reference point.

The Rev. Keeyon Carter, pastor of Wellington Heights Community Church, said the paint-by-numbers element was an important part of developing ownership in the new mural, which will pay dividends to the community long after the paint dries.

“When we think about the way Jesus did things, he included everyone. … He empowered and allowed people to take ownership,” Carter said. “We believe there’s talents, gifts and abilities right here in the community. Let’s use this mural to bring them out.”

Two of those gifts were drawn out of neighborhood residents Mae Glessner, 11, and Nyeanna Davis, 14.

“I hope that everyone sees the happiness and just goes ‘wow,’” said Nyeanna, who painted flowers and vines on the right side of the mural to depict “joy” — her assigned word.

Mae chose butterflies to represent “love,” because “it shows that everyone can love each other even though we’re unique.” She also drew flowers on the upper left side of the mural to symbolize growth.

By drawing out and using the community’s talents, Keeyon said the mural has taught residents that they’re capable of contributing to the betterment of wherever they live — Wellington Heights or elsewhere.

“I hope that people would know this is not a God forsaken place, and treat it like holy land,” he said. “Through that paradigm shift, I think things will get better.”

The community arts association and Wellington Heights Community Church are in conversations to determine the fate of old mural, which was removed in pieces after the building underwent repairs for deteriorated siding. After the mural is restored, they hope to find a home for it with community organizations or museums.

In 2010, Iowa City artist Zech Ward was commissioned to restore the 16th Street SE side mural depicting Engle’s impact on the local and international writing and artistic community.

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