Community Invited to Celebrate Mural

9.25.21

About the Project

When “Love Where you Live” author Peter Kageyama visited Montgomery County in 2018, he held a workshop with a small group of Montgomery County residents that concluded with an exercise brainstorming new, exciting projects to enhance the community.

This led to a conversation of bringing art to historic downtown Crawfordsville. The idea gained momentum when the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN) awarded a grant to the Tippecanoe Arts Federation (TAF) to install murals in the 10 county WHIN region for a project known as “WHIN Walls.” The Montgomery County Community Foundation also pledged additional funding for the installation.

A local planning committee, with the help of TAF, has worked to make this idea a reality. Downtown Crawfordsville will soon see a new mural in the alley between the Montgomery County Community Foundation and Milligan’s Flowers and Gifts at 119 E. Main Street.

About the Artist

Jenna Morello is a muralist from Brooklyn, New York whose work can be found all over the country. Her vibrant, unique designs have resulted in many different commissions, including a floor of 4 World Trade Center, a component of the rebuilt World Trade Center Complex in New York. In 2015, Jenna appeared on “Street Art Throwdown,” a reality-competition series on the Oxygen Network. While she specializes in murals and street art, Jenna also creates glass and mixed media pieces. You can learn more about Jenna and see her work here.

She is scheduled to be in town from September 23rd - October 5th and the community is welcome to stop by anytime to watch her paint. Jenna’s typical daily schedule will likely be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

What will the mural look like?

In the spirit of surprise, a full rendering of the mural will not be released ahead of time. Make plans to visit downtown Crawfordsville to see Jenna's incredible talents in action! If you can't make it, daily updates will be posted to the MCCF Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

Why an alley?

When you think of a mural, it’s easy to picture it on a broad, open wall. Alleys are quickly becoming a popular place to “activate,” and turn into new spaces for communities to enjoy. This alley in particular sees a lot of foot traffic on a daily basis, serves as a main thoroughfare between Pike Place and the Marie Canine Plaza, and is in the heart of Downtown Crawfordsville. (If you’re a graduate of one of our local high schools, there’s a good chance you probably had senior photos taken there, too!) It was the committee’s hope that activating this alley would not only provide a unique place for public art, but also give visitors a reason to park and explore the rest of what our downtown has to offer.

Scheduled Events

In addition to her daily work, the community is invited to attend the following events to celebrate the new piece and Jenna’s visit:

  • Saturday, September 25
    • Coffee and Donuts with Jenna- 9:00-11:00 a.m.
      • Spend your Saturday morning downtown! MCCF will be serving free coffee and donuts on Main Street to enjoy while watching Jenna bring the alley walls to life.

  • Saturday, October 2
    • 2021 Art Walk- 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
      • This annual event, sponsored by the Art League of Montgomery County, features local art on display in downtown merchants' windows. Pick up a map and explore all of the talent in our community!

    • Dedication of the Wall- 11:00 a.m.
      • Hosted by the Art League of Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Community Foundation

  • Oktoberfest- 4:00 p.m.
    • Hosted by Crawfordsville Main Street, Visit Montgomery County, and Backstep Brewing Company. Enjoy local food, drinks, and music at Pike Place.


Project Partners