Many urban arts movements of graffiti and street murals have affected how modern-day art is viewed and the ways people see it. Bloomington is no exception.
There are a variety of painted murals around Bloomington, including “WE RISE BY LIFTING EACH OTHER,” by Priscilla Rocha and “The Beeline Mural” by Lily Hollinden.
These murals all tell their own stories, and according to their artists, each mural they paint has a different meaning and inspiration behind it.
Rocha explained the story behind her mural “WE RISE BY LIFTING EACH OTHER,” on the side of the Wild Orchid Aerial Dance and Fitness Studio on 6th Street, which was inspired by the empowerment of all body types. Owner of Wild Orchid Anita DeCastro wanted a mural that both represented the pole fitness studio brand and created a welcoming environment.
Rocha graduated with a degree in arts management from IU. After graduation, Rocha worked as the gallery director for Blueline Media Productions. She then worked as a studio manager at UNVEILED, a female empowerment portrait photography studio.
“I would curate and install monthly art shows, which is how I got to know so many wonderful members of the Bloomington community and how I got most of my art opportunities in Bloomington,” Rocha said.
Rocha has personal goals of empowering immigrant women through her art and activism, which she represented through the mural as well.
“As someone who does not fit the prescribed standards of beauty that require us to be small, reduce our appetites for life, and hide the power that we are born with to be easier to manipulate, we live in a world that profits off our self-doubt and insecurities,” Rocha said. “So, this mural is a nod to the femmes that fight through these tendencies and break the mold by existing and loving themselves just as they are.”
Even though Rocha has since left Bloomington, she said her artwork allows her to still feel connected to the community.
“I get to leave my mark and have people know that I was there way after I left, which is a pretty cool feeling,” Rocha said. “I was in Bloomington for 12 years and now I live in Chicago. I miss the community I found there.”
Local Painter Lily Hollinden created her first and only mural, “The Beeline Mural,” which depicts vibrant and detailed bees and honeycombs on the side of a home at 921 S. Morton St. Hollinden created this mural in 2018 for the Bitzer family, who are long time family friends with Hollinden and own the house which supports the mural.
“They specifically wanted the beehive/line of bees composition, as they had spent a long time living in the Netherlands and had kept bees there,” Hollinden said in an email. “It worked great considering they live right on the B-Line walking path.”
Hollinden is originally from Bloomington and attended IU to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts. After graduating IU and creating the mural in May, Hollinden moved to Arkansas to complete her Master of Fine Arts with a focus in painting at the University of Arkansas.
“It was awesome to get to leave a piece of public art before I moved away from Bloomington,” Hollinden said. “I had lived there since I was two and was about to complete my BFA at IU.”
Hollinden and Rocha both spoke on the importance of integrating local art into the Bloomington community. Both artists believe they left behind their mark in different ways and find comfort in knowing that they still impact their community, even when they live hundreds of miles away.
“I think making art public and accessible is super important and does make a community more beautiful, and it encourages people to get out of the house and see such landmarks,” Hollinden said.
Hollinden even said Benjamin Moore Paint and Wallpaper store on Walnut Street supplied the paint cans for her mural free of charge because the store was so excited to help with the beautification of Bloomington.
Bloomington on Limestone Post Magazine includes a list of more murals around the city on its “The Bloomington Mural Trail” page which includes 43 murals all around Bloomington.
