See Art Come to Life at Brush the Block
If you’ve ever tried a mural crawl in Kalamazoo, you will see the countless pieces of beautiful art that adorn our local buildings.
Ever wondered how those massive murals are created?
Your chance to witness art on a grand scale arrives in early September with Brush the Block.
This multi-day mural festival celebrates art and culture and will welcome six new murals to Kalamazoo.
Read on for intel on the new art, the local artists behind them and how to score a free trolley ride to visit!
📷: KZOOKIDS staff
In this article
all images in this article courtesy of Brush the Block, unless otherwise noted.
Mural Locations, Designs & Muralists
Meet the artists and get a sneak peek of their designs below.
Keep Singing by Ellen Vandermyde
Mural Concept
Artist & Mural Site
| Northside Association for Community Development 622 N Park St, Kalamazoo MI 49007 More Mural Info |
We Got the Juice (In the Zoo) by Maya James
Mural Concept
Artist & Mural Site
| Kalamazoo Transit Building 526 N Burdick St, Kalamazoo MI 49007 More Mural Info |
(Looking For) A Soft Place To Land by DBL VSN Murals, Heidi Weiss and Chafe Hensley
Mural Concept
Artists & Mural Site
| Stamped Robin 128 Portage St, Kalamazoo MI 49007 More Mural Info |
Untitled by Patrick Hershberger a.k.a. Bonus Saves
Mural Concept
Artist & Mural Site
| Farmers Alley 145 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo MI 49007 More Mural Info |
Untitled by Amy O’Donnell-Lueth
Mural Concept
Artist & Mural Site
| Haymarket Building 161 E Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49007 More Mural Info |
Untitled by Dania Grevengoed
Mural Concept
Artist & Mural Site
| Main Street East in the Haymarket Plaza 251 E Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49007 More Mural Info |
Mural Map
Find the mural sites plus other planned event locations during Brush the Block:
Free Trolley Rides on Salvador Troli
Need a ride to see all of the murals in action?
The Holly Jolly Trolley will undergo a makeover for Brush the Block, transforming into Salvador Troli.
Trolley service will run September 2 – 6, offering free transportation to all mural locations.
Salvador Troli sponsor: Discover Kalamazoo
Festival Schedule
Plan your Brush the Block adventures with this daily schedule:
Tuesday, Sep 2
| 3 – 7 PM | Mural Painting |
| 3 – 7 PM | Information & Merch Tent |
| 3 – 8 PM | Free Salvador Troli Rides |
| All Day | Community Window Paint Project, Unity |
| 7 – 8:30 PM | Opening Reception – Black Arts and Cultural Center |
Wednesday, Sep 3
| 3 – 7 PM | Mural Painting | |
| 3 – 7 PM | Information & Merch Tent | |
| 3 – 8 PM | Free Salvador Troli Rides | |
| All Day | Community Window Paint Project, Unity | |
| 6 – 7:30 PM | Public Art Panel Discussion – Jolliffe Theater in the Epic Center |
Thursday, Sep 4
| 3 – 7 PM | Mural Painting |
| 3 – 7 PM | Information & Merch Tent |
| 3 – 8 PM | Free Salvador Troli Rides |
| All Day | Community Window Paint Project, Unity |
| 12 – 1 PM | Panel discussion – RFQs, RFPs & Applying for Public Art Opportunities – Epic Center |
| 6 – 8 PM | The Skeletones, brought to You by Sounds of the Zoo Community Art Project, Imagine That! – Northside Association for Community Development |
Friday, Sep 5
| 3 PM – 7 PM | Mural Painting | |
| 3 PM – 7 PM | Information & Merch Tent | |
| 3 PM – 9 PM | Free Salvador Troli Rides | |
| All Day | Community Window Paint Project, Unity | |
| 5 PM – 8 PM | Art Hop | |
| 6 PM – 7:30 PM | Public Art Tour with Lynn Houghton – Epic Center | |
| 5 PM – 8 PM | Nathan Moore Affair, brought to you by Sounds of the Zoo Community Art Project, Imagine That! – Bates Alley |
Saturday, Sep 6
| 12 – 8 PM | Mural Painting |
| 12 – 5 PM | Information & Merch Tent |
| 12 – 8 PM | Free Salvador Troli Rides |
| All Day | Community Window Paint Project, Unity |
| 12 – 3 PM | Black Magic Media DJ, brought to you by Sounds of the Zoo Community Art Project, Imagine That! – Haymarket Plaza |
Sunday, Sep 7
| 11 AM – 1 PM | Closing Celebration – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts |
Event Recap
More to Explore
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