EAST LANSING, Mich. — The third installment of the “Life is a Groovy Opportunity” mural project is currently being painted on the north-facing wall of the Division Street Garage in downtown East Lansing.
This multi-year mural project began in 2019 and is the result of a collaboration between the Michigan State University (MSU) Department of Art, Art History and Design, East Lansing Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and City of East Lansing. The mural project offers a space for MSU students, faculty and alumni to collaborate with fellow creatives, each bringing their own influence to make an artistic statement in the community. Contributing artists for the third installation include: Associate Professor Benjamin Duke, Joan Bambery, Mei Kiengsiri, Kiel Darling, Adeline Newmann and Shirin Abedinirad.
"This project is a fantastic collaboration between MSU, the DDA and the City,” said East Lansing Arts Programming & Creative Placemaking Specialist Wendy Sylvester-Rowan. “The mural certainly adds to the vibrancy of the downtown district and gives the community another wonderful spot to gather. Ben Duke and the team of artists have absolutely transformed the space with bright colors and dynamic images."
The artists will be painting the third installment over the next two weeks, with plans to have it tentatively completed in time for the East Lansing Art Festival weekend, which is May 21-22. Community members are encouraged to stop by to watch the third installment being painted and engage with the artists. A parklet will be installed adjacent to the space on Tuesday, May 10 for community members looking for a place to sit and watch the mural unfold.
The “Life is a Groovy Opportunity” mural project is funded by the East Lansing DDA and MSU.