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(The hand) Arion Arscott, 25, a volunteer with festival, helped paint the mural of a previously abandoned garage along with Layna Myrick, 20, a sister of the organizer of the event.
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Paint it Forward: Toledo event combines art, activism

THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER

Paint it Forward: Toledo event combines art, activism

A forgotten garage at 901 Pinewood Ave. was the newest site of a beautification project in collaboration with Bowling Green State University’s mural class. 

“Joy is the best type of protest,” the organizer of the event, Lydia Myrick, 22, a recent graduate from the University of Toledo, said of the 2024 Paint it Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition.

Officially the gathering at the intersection of Pinewood Avenue and North Miller Street was activism “against the death penalty and gun violence,” as Ms. Myrick said. But to those who may have happened upon the location, it is likely they would have seen a community indulging in one another’s company with yard games, a DJ, and an open invitation to paint the newly refurbished building. 

“Our primary focus is connecting with the community and enhancing the initiatives that are already in motion,” said Yusuf Lateef, an adjunct professor who teaches the mural class at BGSU. 

Previously Ms. Myrick, a South Toledo native, “was already curating exhibitions on her own,” he said. 

For two years prior to Paint It Forward, the double major in digital art and art history had put together an art exhibition focusing on Black art. This effort established her in the art community and led the BGSU adjunct professor to seek her out for a new mural in South Toledo.

“Our hope is after this weekend to really get some support and resources to create a permanent installation for artists,” Mr. Lateef said. “In general, it's open for a longer conversation with the community.”

After removing debris from inside the shambled garage, a tarp acted as a makeshift ceiling during the first day of the event, protecting the contents of the garage from the elements while muralists painted the outside. Art adorned the inside walls as a yoga class led by Isabella Weik, president and CEO of Toledo Mindfulness Institute, walked attendees through basic stretches. 

“I like that everyone is having fun,” Ms. Myrick said as she explained she grew up in a “really tight community”  with “a lot of support.” Since Ms. Myrick was helped by her family and community, she was determined to give back by bringing people together.

Vendors and sponsors set up tables next to the street. Northwest Ohio Peace Alliance, No Death Penalty Ohio, Toledo School for the Arts, Junction Coalition, HYPE (Helping Young People Excel), Hype 2.0, BGSU, and the city of Toledo had resources on display. 

The fresh approach to advocate for a better tomorrow was cloaked in a sincere desire to commune with one another.

“It'll help everyone out if we know about each other and what each other needs,” Ms. Myrick said as she explained how she saw community. “Without that we're lonely and easily preyed upon.”

On Deck Alliance, a local initiative seeking to help kids stay out of trouble by teaching them to skateboard, blocked off a section of Miller Street for their half-pipe ramps and provided energetic release for kids and adults. 

“They've been looking forward to this for a while,” Jessica Lothery, 37, South Toledo, said of her kids who were already sliding down the ramps on skateboards.

“It’s always good to experience positive things in the neighborhood,” she said. 

The festival continues 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the same location and will feature live music, art, speakers from the community, and food trucks. 

Ms. Myrick said they are taking donations in association with the event to cover the costs of operation, and anything above and beyond their cost of operation will be donated to the South Toledo community via donations to a domestic abuse shelter or a homeless shelter. 

First Published June 28, 2024, 9:39 p.m.

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(The hand) Arion Arscott, 25, a volunteer with festival, helped paint the mural of a previously abandoned garage along with Layna Myrick, 20, a sister of the organizer of the event.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Darrinda Lothery, 9, south Toledo, throws plastic axes with Nick Weber, a coach with On Deck Alliance, during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo on Thursday.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Skaters from On Deck Alliance setup and skate during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, on Thursday.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
(The hand) Arion Arscott, 25, a volunteer with festival, signs a page designating those who helped paint the garage turned art space.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
(Left to right) Juan Griffin, 28, north Toledo, Josh Cunningham, founder of On Deck Alliance, Jordie Tshimpaka, 22, west Toledo, Zion Matthews, 19, west Toledo, skate during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo on Thursday.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Isabella Weik, president & CEO of Toledo Mindfulness Institute, leads a yoga session inside the newly cleared out garage turned art space during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo on Thursday.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
(The hand) Arion Arscott, 25, a volunteer with festival, helped paint the mural of a previously abandoned garage, which will be turned into a community art space.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Cannan Knox, 19, of central Toledo, skates during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, Ohio on Thursday June 27, 2024. THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Juan Griffin, 28, north Toledo, skates during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, Ohio on Thursday June 27, 2024. THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Juan Griffin, 28, north Toledo, and Zion Matthews, 19, west Toledo, skate during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, Ohio on Thursday June 27, 2024. THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Darrinda Lothery, 9, south Toledo, skates during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, Ohio on Thursday June 27, 2024. THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Zion Matthews, 19, west Toledo, during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, Ohio on Thursday June 27, 2024. THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER(Note: There was a hair or sensor dust, which showed up in the sky. This picture has been altered with photoshop, as is a standard practice for issues of this kind for photojournalists.)  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Juan Griffin, 28, north Toledo, skates during the first day of the three day Paint It Forward Festival and Reflections of Peace Exhibition in south Toledo, Ohio on Thursday June 27, 2024. THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Lydia Myrick, 22, organizer of Paint It Forward, stands in the middle of the event with a vendor at the event, Aralana Alexander, (in blue) 46, the CEO of H.Y.P.E. and executive director of H20, two mental health organizations.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Mike Clink, a student taking the mural class at Bowling Green State University, paints what was an abandoned garage, which will be turned into an art space for the community.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
Layna Myrick, 20, the sister of the organizer of the event, drinks Palestinian Tea from the Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
(Left to right) Jordie Tshimpaka, 22, west Toledo, Josh Cunningham, founder of On Deck Alliance, Zion Matthews, 19, west Toledo, and Juan Griffin, 28, north Toledo, skateboard.  (THE BLADE/STEPHEN ZENNER)  Buy Image
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