MHS senior paints mural to bring color to downtown Mason

Katie Samol | The Chronicle

Mason High School (MHS) senior Ka’i D’Eredita is making an effort to make the world a better place, one paint stroke at a time.

On October 11, D’Eredita and Kings High School student Bri Ries, along with local mural artist David Uy, began work on a new mural on the side of the chain sandwich shop Subway. The mural will be located in downtown Mason on the corner of Mason-Montgomery Road and Main Street. The wall is highly visible, facing the main road, and is seen by many Mason residents every day. 

The design and student apprentices for the mural were chosen through a contest put on by the Rotary Club of Mason Deerfield. Anyone was able to submit a design for the contest, and the club’s chosen theme for the artwork was “Building Goodwill and Better Friendships.” The selected design was submitted by Jenna Hudson, an art teacher in the Kings School District and co-owner of Wildflower Cafe, a local restaurant in downtown Mason.

“The artwork features multiple layers of varied designs and colors, representing the diverse people in our community,” Hudson said. “These layers surround and build off of a central heart shape, symbolizing love and friendship at the core of everything. At the edges, olive branches are incorporated as a reminder that, even in a divisive time, we can still listen to and respect others with differing opinions. It is through this openness that we foster goodwill and stronger friendships.”

According to Jean Raga, President of the Rotary Club of Mason Deerfield, the theme originates from the Rotary 4-Way Test. This guiding standard for ethics within the Rotary Club of Mason Deerfield encourages members to work towards a city that values community service. Uy, D’Eredita and Ries are working hard to bring this message to life on the local mural. 

“The lettering will go on this side and that side,” Uy explained, pointing to the open spots on the wall where the designs will be. “On the bottom, it’s gonna say, ‘Mason, Ohio’. It’s gonna say, ‘Make the Mile’ right here, and the mission statement will be here and the Rotary Club logo will be up there.”

The phrase “Make the Mile” can be seen on signs up and down the streets of downtown Mason, as well as on the left side of the new mural. The artwork is part of the Mason Deerfield Chamber Community Development Corporation’s larger “Make the Mile” initiative, a mission to revitalize a one mile stretch of downtown Mason. Their goal is to turn the Mason Mile into a vibrant place where culture and community intersect, a celebration of downtown Mason with architecture, art and streetscape and a more welcoming, bright and colorful place.

After the selection of the mural design was announced on October 1, the selection of the artists themselves was the next step.

“Bree and I were selected by our teachers from our schools,” D’Eredita said. “The art department [selected us]. In Mason, we submitted applications, and then all the art teachers reviewed it and chose one student.”

D’Eredita said she felt that she was a surprising pick for the job due to paint not being her usual medium.

“Usually, I’m a 3D artist,” D’Eredita said. “I do ceramics, so I do classes with Ms. [Witham-Walsh]. I like that, so I was surprised that they chose me for a painting project.”

Although she felt she was an unexpected pick, this project has given D’Eredita an opportunity to bring one of her art dreams to fruition that would be difficult otherwise as a high schooler.

“I’ve always wanted to do large installations, so getting approval from [the] city helped with the logistics of getting art approved,” D’Eredita said.

While her usual medium is clay, D’Eredita does acknowledge that parts of her painting experience and ability have carried over to a different canvas. This is why she believes the art teachers trusted her with the project. Working with the different materials has been new for D’Eredita, but it has also become one of her favorite parts of the experience.

“I think learning the technical things [is my favorite part] because I’ve never spray painted before,” D’Eredita shared. “David was teaching me how to spray paint for the first time and free handing it when you don’t have a projector, dealing with difficulties and how to handle it.”

As a professional muralist Uy was able to help D’Eredita and Ries solve logistical problems within the mural painting process. Problem solving is a highlight of D’Eredita’s experience on the site as an apprentice, as well as one of Uy’s favorite parts of leading D’Eredita and Ries. 

“The problem solving part where we’re like, ‘Hey, what about this?’ [is important] because every mural site is different,” Uy said.

The unique location left Uy, D’Eredita and Ries with opportunities to troubleshoot, especially regarding external factors like weather, getting the project done before it gets cold, the nearby bustling streets and their personal schedules. Uy said that as a team, the three had to work together and be flexible.  

“That in itself too, showing them that you always have to be thinking on your toes, [thinking] ‘All right, how are we gonna approach this and be safe at the same time,’” Uy said.

Uy was consulted during the review of design entries, and he believes the artwork chosen worked out well given the circumstance. While often Uy opts to project murals, with the fence and street it would have been difficult, so instead they prepared the wall with marker points.

“I told them ‘We’re just gonna wing it,’” Uy said. “The design picked made it easier [to paint] because it’s a circular design where it’s not very technical. It’s more just color so it worked out for a situation like this where we’re trying to learn.”

After lots of hard work and collaboration, the mural will be finished in mid November. As she wraps up this project, D’Eredita said that this experience has only fueled her art journey, and she hopes others can admire the work as much as she does.

“For me, it’s the start of my art-making career hopefully, because I want to do stuff like this–big scale things that people see regularly,” D’Eredita said. “That’s what it means to me, [it is] the start of an artistic journey.”

Now, when Mason students drive past this wall, it will not go unnoticed. D’Eredita said she hopes that as Mason citizens drive by they see a vibrant, colorful piece of art, one reminding us of the community, diversity, and love that surrounds us. 

“The goal for this area, this corner, [is] for people to come and enjoy after this,” D’Eredita said. “In downtown Cincinnati, murals [there] are so gorgeous, my mom and I like walking down those streets and looking at them. I hope that’s the kind of enjoyment that people find in downtown Mason.”