Workers clean and prepare the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 10th Street, the then-future site of an inclusive-themed crosswalk mural, for painting on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Huntington.
A street sweeper cleans the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 10th Street, the future site of an inclusive-themed crosswalk mural, for painting on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Huntington.
Workers clean and prepare the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 10th Street, the then-future site of an inclusive-themed crosswalk mural, for painting on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Huntington.
A street sweeper cleans the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 10th Street, the future site of an inclusive-themed crosswalk mural, for painting on Friday, June 7, 2024, in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ HuntingtonƵs new inclusive crosswalk will lean into the cityƵs history as the Jewel City, artist Sassa Wilkes said.
After seeing several pride crosswalks depicting more general images relating to the LGBTQ+ community, Wilkes said he wanted his design to be Ƶmore specific to HuntingtonƵs community.Ƶ
Using a jewel as the focal point of his project, Wilkes said, ƵIt just felt like a community. A community has to be very organized, and thereƵs got to be somebody at the helm to keep things in order, but the individual members of the community are all different shapes, sizes, colors, patterns and textures, so I just felt like a big jewel was perfect.Ƶ
Work on the mural began with power washing on Friday, June 7, and will continue through the weekend with painting from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. If not finished Saturday, painting will continue Sunday, June 9, weather permitting.
During this time, 4th Avenue between 9th and 11th streets and 10th Street between 3 ½ and 4 ½ alleys will be closed to traffic until early Monday, June 10.
ƵI want this to be a symbol of love and unity and support and community and Ƶ the jewel especially Ƶ a strong symbol that holds all people, not even just LGBTQ people, and uplifts all people,Ƶ Wilkes said.
The crosswalk, a collaboration between the MayorƵs Council for the Arts and Huntington Pride, has been in the works for some time, said Ally Layman, president of Huntington Pride.
ƵƵ Huntington Pride, we donƵt have a brick-and-mortar location Ƶ we donƵt have an office space,Ƶ Layman said. ƵSo this crosswalk symbolizes and signals to the LGBTQ community, for individuals here in Huntington, that theyƵre safe and supported and that Huntington is a place for them.
ƵI think by installing the inclusive crosswalk, Huntington positions itself as a forward-thinking city that embraces change and champions human rights for all its citizens,Ƶ Layman added.
Both Layman and Wilkes emphasized the importance of this mural to HuntingtonƵs youth.
ƵWe have a lot of young people that live in this community, and weƵve seen a lot of people leave Huntington to go to what they think are more inclusive spaces,Ƶ Layman said. ƵAnd, so, this also sends a powerful message to our LGBTQ youth that they are valued and supported in their own community, that they donƵt have to leave.Ƶ
Reflecting on his own experiences, Wilkes said, ƵIf I could have seen more displays of support and love for me, for who I was when I was young, I would not have had nearly such a hard time.
ƵTo make an effort of this size, to display that level of support for a community that is not always supported is so meaningful to me,Ƶ he added.
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