Community Mural Projects
Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol
In May 2024, we unveiled a vibrant mural on Stapleton Road, Bristol, co-designed with the local community. Through workshops, residents shared stories and ideas, creating a mural that captures Easton's lively spirit…
About This Project:
Studio Meraki and Eastside Community Trust proudly collaborated with artist Molly Hawkins on one of three public art installations to revitalise Stapleton Road. This project aims to foster community pride, enhance the visual landscape, and encourage engagement with Easton's rich character.
Molly Hawkins, known for her vibrant public artworks, led the creation of a large-scale mural in Easton. The mural was developed through craft workshops where locals shared stories, contributed ideas, and envisioned colours and motifs. These elements were incorporated into the final design, with participants even helping to paint the mural.
Free Community Workshop Highlights:
Afghan Tasty Corner: A drop-in workshop for collage-making with various materials, fostering creativity and connection.
Molly Mural Studio: A "Public Artwork Designing" workshop exploring spray painting, stencil creation, and colour theory.
Trinity Centre: A "Mini Mural Creation" class where participants crafted draft designs influenced by local traditions.
The Stapleton Road Public Art Project is an open invitation for the community to celebrate. Together, the efforts of Studio Meraki, Eastside Community Trust, and Molly Hawkins along with the other artists have helped transform Stapleton Road into a living canvas that shares the heart and soul of Easton.
Photo Credit - Evoke Pictures
BWIM PULS, WEIL DER STADT, Germany
In June 2024, Molly Hawkins transformed the streets of Weil der Stadt, Stuttgart, through an exciting five-day community project.
About This Project:
Molly kicked off the transformation by collaborating with 100 students to generate ideas for a mural. They explored themes of natural and urban landscapes and how they intertwine. Through collage workshops, the students created motifs that became floor and wall paintings.
The project aimed to challenge mobility and explore how cars, people, and bikes share space. Floor shapes extended onto the pavement, showing that this street was for all types of traffic.
Architects used natural materials to build interactive seating areas, encouraging people to engage with their surroundings. A sculptor also created a temporary installation that challenged how we interact with our environment.
The result was a vibrant transformation of an ordinary street. The walls and the street itself were painted with playful designs, creating a dynamic, engaging environment. The mural followed the stairway to the train station, guiding visitors with colourful imagery.
The community now interacts with the space in new ways. The vibrant artwork has made the area a focal point, encouraging more foot traffic and providing a safe, inviting space for everyone.
The Coexist Community Kitchen, Easton, Bristol
In 2020, Molly Hawkins was honoured to receive the prestigious 'The E A Abbey Memorial Trust Fund for Mural Painting in Great Britain / The E Vincent Harris Fund for Mural Decoration,' previously awarded to esteemed artists like Bridget Riley and Norman Adams.
About This Project:
The funding enabled Molly to design a bespoke mural for Coexist Community Kitchen, an organisation that promotes social inclusion through cookery classes and events for marginalised individuals and groups. Molly's mural contributed to creating a calming and safe atmosphere within the venue, further enriching the spirit of this remarkable non-profit cookery school.
Her artistic contribution has helped to enhance the supportive and welcoming environment that Coexist Community Kitchen strives to cultivate.
Goodmayes Train Station
In anticipation of the Crossrail Elizabeth line, the "Welcome to Goodmayes" street art project transformed Goodmayes Train Station into a vibrant public space, engaging young people and the local community in the creative process.
About This Project:
The project's main objective was to create a mural reflecting the diversity and unity of the local community. By bringing together young people, local residents, and businesses, the project showcased Goodmayes as an exciting destination.
A design competition involving input from local residents resulted in 460 public votes. A panel formed by Redbridge Council and local businesses, including Hadley Property Group, selected the winning design by 13-year-old Redbridge resident Tahani. Her design featured people of different backgrounds spelling "Together," symbolising community harmony.
For the project's second phase, international mural artist Molly Hawkins developed the final mural using Tahani's design as inspiration. Molly honoured the original by retaining the figures and adding patterns to bring the drawing's energy to life.
The completed mural outside Goodmayes Station transformed the area, injecting joy and vibrancy. The project made art accessible, fostering inclusivity and celebrating the community's unique characteristics.
The Goodmayes Train Station Mural project successfully engaged various community groups, promoting unity and collaboration. The final artwork stands as a testament to the community's shared values and aspirations.
Tahani expressed pride in seeing her vision come to life: "It's interactive as people can stand in front of the painted people!" Molly Hawkins highlighted the project's impact: "Seeing that transformation and the smiles and responses from people is just really nice."
NHS, THAMES HOUSE, TEDDINGTON
In July 2023, Molly Hawkins marked the 75th anniversary of the NHS by partnering with the Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust for a mural project celebrating this cornerstone of British society.
About This Project:
The collaborative artwork involved painting vibrant, joyful shapes on wooden panels, serving as a backdrop for NHS staff to add their own touch by painting local flora and fauna. The resulting mural, themed 'Nature and Serenity,' became a testament to the resilience and creativity of the NHS team. Despite the capricious British weather, the team completed the piece with a "rainbow brolly" in hand.
This project was not just an artistic endeavour but also a stand in support of the NHS amidst its current challenges, echoing the call to 'SAVE OUR NHS.' The mural celebrates the dedication of NHS staff and serves as a vibrant reminder of the community's appreciation and support.
The project highlights the importance of art in fostering community spirit and supporting essential services like the NHS. It stands as a colourful and enduring tribute to the hard work and dedication of healthcare professionals.
