Nashville's first Permanent Supportive Housing facility, a haven for the city's unhoused population, is stepping up its game with a new public art project helmed by local artist Omari Booker. The Metro Nashville Arts Commission handpicked Booker, noted for his paintings and installations, to bring an artistic touch to the building's exterior, residents will soon have a vibrant mural to call their own – an ode to resilience crafted by one of their own.
Booker, who cut his teeth studying studio art and graphic design at Belmont University before bagging a B.S. in Graphic Design from Tennessee State University, is no amateur when it comes to stirring the pot with mixed media, charcoal, and the like. He's setting sights on an expansive mural and sculptures that'll jazz up the new digs.
With shovels hitting dirt in May of 2023, the facility at 600 2nd Avenue North is billed as a game-changer, offering 90 units against a tableau of laundry amenities, green spaces, and a backdrop of the Cumberland River. Booker's stroke of genius will canvas a retaining wall at the corner of 1st Avenue North and Jo Johnston Avenue, complemented by three-dimensional flourishes fit for the locale.
Booker's creative muscle flexing isn't just about aesthetics – it's personal too. "For many years I have been observing unhoused members of our society creating living spaces on park benches, sidewalks and beneath highway overpasses. I have always found this reality disturbing. I often make work that investigates our societal choices to humanize some people and dehumanize others," Booker shared with the Metro Nashville Arts Commission.
Councilmember Jacob Kupin, representing District 19, tossed his hat in the ring to cheer on Booker. "On his website, Omari shares his philosophy as Freedom Through Art. I hope all that find support at the new Permanent Supportive Housing facility find their freedom through his art as well," he told the Metro Nashville Arts Commission. It's a sentiment that integrates art and hope for those who've been without a roof – a testament to the power of creativity in rebuilding lives.
The Percent for Public Art Fund, a product of Nashville's government hallways since 2000, is footing the bill for Booker's vision. The city's capital improvements cache is chipping in one percent to ensure that the Metro Public Art Collection isn't just robust – it's resonant. Those eager to feast their eyes on the finished piece – and the housing that goes with it – can circle summer 2024 on their calendars for the big reveal.
