Paint it Back co-founder Gabi Torres is returning to provide fresh paint and views for the residents of Clinton, Iowa.
Torres and her partner Chris Shannon work with the Sawmill Museum, which owns the old McEleney Motors building, to enhance the exterior for resident enjoyment.
"It use to have these beautiful glass garage doors...it's still a beautiful building. The glass of those doors were getting broken into, there was vandalism it just wasn't great," Torres said in an interview with WVIK. "They had to cover stuff up with plywood. When you're driving down or spending a lot of time there, because my buildings are there...it doesn't make you feel great. You don't feel a sense of pride."
Torres was visiting Miami back in 2022 and found inspiration for the vacant building after seeing the Wynwood Wall murals. Now in 2024, Torres and eight other artists from around the nation are coming to paint new murals from August 17th to August 24th.
'We designate basically a week for everybody to come to the building paint their wall...create a mural and then on the last Saturday we block off the streets and have a big block party with music and stuff for kids to do, food trucks, all kinds of stuff," Torres said.
Ari Lewerenz
This year the block party, happening Aug. 24th from noon to 10 pm, hosts a DJ from 2 to 6 pm and the band The Stockwells from 7 to 10 pm. Interdance from Iowa City will also be in attendance.
"So they're going to be doing these interactive performance pieces throughout the day to engage people of all abilities with movement and interact with the wall and the different murals that are happening," Torres said.
She mentions the kid wall last year filled up within an hour so they're expanding the space available for kid mural painting. The Sawmill Museum is also providing games for children and the Clinton Area Rod Club is showcasing classic cars.
The week of mural painting is using over 1300 cans of spray paint costing thousands of dollars.
Torres says she is more of an abstract artist that uses canvases and last year was her first time painting a mural. She mentioned the approach of painting is different with size as well as location.
"I work in my studio, I have my music, I'm by myself," Torres said. "It's very different from being like I'm on this lift on main street in front of the world to see trying this new thing I've never done before. so it was very intimidating."
Ari Lewerenz
The experience also unveiled to Torres how challenging it is to create designs using spray paint.
"These guys who work with spray paint they make it look so easy but there is so many nuances to using spray paint and tricks and just skills that you have to build up over time. Just being comfortable with a spray can," Torres said.
She says anyone is welcome to stop by at 2231 Grant Street to watch the artists create their murals and speak with them.
"It's incredible how this building has really activated this neglected space. Since, it's brought life and how that's seeping into the community and into that particular business district," Torres said.
For more information visit paintitback.org.
