Artist and Business Owner Use Mural to Spark Optimism in Nashville
NASHVILLE, Tenn – A new mural in East Nashville is offering rays of hope and comfort to the city’s residents. Painted on the side of the Hideout Salon and Lounge, this vibrant piece of public art speaks to Nashville’s resilience and optimism, saying, ‘Change is Gonna Come’ loudly and boldly.
A Mural with a Message
It’s hard to miss the mural on Gallatin Pike, which radiates bright colors and a strong message. A creation of local artist Kellie Lee, the mural has now become an embodiment of hope in the community.
“You never know who is going to walk through your door,” said Chelsea Joffray, owner of the Hideout Salon and Lounge. “And, I really want those words to really give the community and anyone who is traveling down Gallatin the idea that this is happening,” she added. What she refers to is a change, a transformation towards positivity and relentless hope, embodied in the new mural.
The Vision Behind the Vibrancy
Lee started painting the mural back in December, and it took her about a month and a half to complete it. “I just really want to see more public art that speaks to the residents and not necessarily the tourists,” she said. Her vision has transcended beautifully into the mural, bearing a message of change and progress, meant not just for the ones who frequently visit the Hideout Salon and Lounge, but the larger community.
“I think it’s a little more about trying to ignite a little bit of fire in people saying there is hope, and there are people here who think the same things you think and believe in the same things you believe in,” Lee said.
Nurturing Optimism
Joffray hopes the message painted on her salon’s wall will emanate optimism. “I hope that the message brings hope,” she said. This mural is not just an art piece but a part of Lee’s ‘People’s Mural Project’. She has expressed her desire to continue such projects across the city, painting walls and hearts with color and hope.
Joffray encourages anyone with a wall to offer for such projects to connect with Lee. In this pursuit, a GoFundMe campaign is running to support the costs of painting supplies.
A Gift to the Community
Art has always been a powerful medium of expression and in these times, Nashville seems to need it more than ever. This mural, bearing bold letters saying ‘Change is Gonna Come’, stands as a beacon of hope, a potent reminder to the community, and an encouraging nudge towards resilience and optimism. It is, in its true essence, a gift to the community.
