'I want people to feel just hope': Artist transforms parts of Avondale with murals
AVONDALE (WKRC) - A local visual artist specializing in painting has transformed various parts of Avondale for over a decade, and he just completed his latest project off of Irving Road at an apartment complex called White Oak Townhomes.
This project was done in partnership with Related Affordable, a developer and art-preneur, that commissions world-class artists in affordable housing communities across the nation.
After 10 weeks and eight gallons of paint, Cedric Michael Cox completed four murals, and his goal is to instill hope and community pride through his art.
I want people to feel just hope," said Cox. "I want them to feel like they belong, like they don’t want to leave, like this is joy, pride.
Avondale has its share of issues, from crime to socioeconomic disadvantages, and this particular property had former management that residents like Serena Carson were unhappy with in their living space.
“It wasn’t the best. We had a lot of issues with our apartment,” said Carson.
Before Cox started his brush strokes, he gathered input from the people who lived there. He had a vision, but he wanted to incorporate their thoughts and feelings.
He said, ‘I am going to put a mural here, do you have anything special that you want to have here?'" Carson said. "So the flower is in representation of my great grandmother. Her name is Emma, but everybody called her 'Bee,' so the flower is a representation of that.
This is Cox’s fifth project in Avondale.
He’s done work on Forest Avenue at the Avondale Town Center.
With each colorful angle and shape towering above, he elevates the beauty present in someone's life.
“I want the people, when they wake up or come home from work, to actually see these murals and be inspired, to be proud of where they are from,” he said.
