Peoria Standard

The city of Peoria and Big Picture Peoria dedicated a new mural on the Niagara Parking Deck, located at 111 SW Adams Street. The event featured remarks from Peoria Mayor Rita Ali, Mark Misselhorn, Vice President of the Big Picture Peoria board, Gilmore Foundation President Laura Cullinan, and Community Foundation of Central Illinois CEO Mark Roberts. The dedication took place downtown at the OSF HealthCare System building.

In her comments, Mayor Ali stated, “Public art has the unique ability to transform spaces and inspire us in our daily lives. It’s a reminder that beauty can be found in unexpected places—even parking decks—and that our public spaces belong to everyone.”

The mural, titled “Live Greater,” is 32 feet tall and 35 feet wide. It features the word “Peoria” along with the faces of six community members from the area. The piece was created by Alex Carmona, a master relief printmaker specializing in woodcuts, reduction woodcuts, and wood carvings/engravings. Funding for the mural came from the Gilmore Foundation, Community Foundation of Central Illinois, and Tourism Reserve Funds from the city of Peoria.

Big Picture Peoria has previously presented other projects in Peoria such as "Abraham Blue," a 50-foot mural on the side of the Peoria County Courthouse; "Portraits of Peoria," on the Main Street side of the downtown location of the Peoria Public Library; and "Find Yourself" at Metro Center. This fall they will host The Big Picture Film Festival on November 23 at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

The project received final approval for a special use permit by the Peoria City Council on August 27 following recommendations by both the Planning and Zoning Commission and a review from the Public Arts Advisory Commission.

Subjects depicted in each letter of “Peoria” are:

P = Edgar Sandoval

E = John Parks

O = Lynette Fernandes

R = Ben Davison

I = Alessandra Carmona

A = Divine Sarfo

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