Uptown Mural Brings Westerville History Alive

John A. Brooks is more than an investor and developer whose projects have revitalized buildings and attracted new amenities to Uptown. He’s a Westerville native, having grown up in this community. When he purchased the old Post Office building from the City earlier this year (and partnered with High Bank Distillery for the brand’s first restaurant and Speakeasy concept in Westerville), he imagined an opportunity for public art to pair with the renovation. This summer, Brooks and his wife Elisabeth commissioned artist Nick Still to complete a nearly 60-foot painting, which featured three individuals whose extraordinary lives left an enduring impact in Westerville.

Why did you commission the mural?

My wife Elisabeth and I enjoy art and have thoroughly enjoyed some of the art installations we have stumbled upon in other Central Ohio areas like Franklinton and the Short North. We have a strong desire to impact our community, specifically Uptown Westerville, and saw a mural as an avenue to do something that could be enjoyed by all.

How did you find the artist and what was the planning process like?

We took a collaborative approach to the entire process and are grateful we did. We put together a 10-plus person committee of community stakeholders, including the Arts Council of Westerville, community leaders, members of

Uptown Westerville Inc., current and former Council members and Uptown Westerville business owners. The planning process spanned more than six months and began with a call for artists. Thirty-plus artists were narrowed to three, in which we asked for design submittals and compensated those artists for their time. There was complete alignment around the chosen artist and design. The design was then unanimously approved by the Uptown Review Board. We’re really grateful for the collaborative, iterative process and support from those in Uptown and the City of Westerville throughout the journey.

How do you feel about the finished product? How do you describe it; did it meet your expectations?

We are genuinely grateful and really proud. It was a long road to get here, but so worth it. We feel a sense of pride and excitement when we drive and walk by it. The rendering on a computer screen looked great, to see it at scale, with how realistic and vibrant, makes us say “Wow!” It is something that we hope will be a point of curiosity, excitement and energy for generations to come. There will soon be a content description with a QR code leading to a website describing all the components in great detail.

Visit Uptown Westerville to view the mural at 20 S. State St., behind Westerville Florist.