Mayor Monroe Nichols and the Crosbie Heights neighborhood recently came together with local artists to unveil new murals in Tulsa's 3rd St. underpass. The project, funded through $24,000 from the 2019 Improve Our Tulsa 2 initiative, celebrates the neighborhood's vibrancy and community spirit. Jamie Pierson of Scraps Designs and Vinny Gomez with VNICE led the mural's creation, supported by input and collaboration from local residents, according to the City of Tulsa.
"This project reflects our bold commitment to involving our local artist community and shows what we can do when we work together with our neighborhoods to make great things happen," Mayor Nichols told City of Tulsa's press room. The initiative was part of the City’s Vibrant Neighborhoods Partnership program, designed to revitalize and engage communities. The murals are intended to act as a gateway, greeting those who enter Crosbie Heights with color and a sense of locality.
Fletcher Stewart, President of the Crosbie Heights Neighborhood Association, expressed the community's enthusiasm for the murals. He highlighted the artists’ engagement in capturing the essence of the area, "They created a mural that we are proud to have represent us," Stewart explained to the City of Tulsa's press room. A community paint day further involved the public, including youth from the nonprofit Common Good.
City projects with local artists have a fresh source of funds via Vision Arts, distributing $150,000 annually from a $2.25 million allocation to the Tulsa Arts Commission. Vision Arts 5, announced in June 2024, awarded funding to 21 local arts organizations, aiming to ultimately generate an estimated $1.13 million in government revenue. The City of Tulsa also undertook an "Arts Listening Tour", involving over 12 interviews to better tap into the pulse of Tulsa's creative communities.
The success of the 3rd Street underpass murals builds upon recent artistic transformations in the city such as the Zink Lake Overlook, rejuvenated in September 2024 with contributions from 11 local muralists. These endeavors embody Tulsa's commitment to intertwining public spaces with local art and community identity, anchoring the spirit of neighborhoods in the visual tapestry of the City of Tulsa's streets.
