Twofold: The Vibrant Vista and Remembering Columbia’s Dynamic Black Main Street

Now largely an arts district, The Vista, the area in and around Washington Street was once called "Black Main Street" and bustled with African American owned businesses. The mural celebrates and remembers that vibrant time through three mural locations. The mural in the walkway next to the library welcomes families and visitors and the murals on Assembly Street and on interior corners of the building will be seen by pedestrians and drivers.

Included in the mural are The Big Apple Club, Capitol Theatre, Do Drop Inn, Phoenix Cafe, Blue Palace Barbershop/Northwestern Mutual, Victory Savings and Bank, Counts Drug Store, Angeline's Beauty Parlor, and multiple businesses at 1030 Washington Street (Jack's Lunch, Smitty's Lounge, Ann's Beauty Salon, Red's Pool Hall, Washington Street Cafe, and Robinson's Barber Shop).

From the artist: Mural painting can be hard work... there were times when I was up to my eyeballs in sweat, grit and sticky paint, but then a kind compliment shouted to me by passing kids, families, and visitors to the library would yank me back into the present -reminding me that what I get to do is so rewarding and I treasure it. Personally, these are my favorite projects... the opportunity to celebrate the important history of a place, inject vibrant color and imagery into an area, and to feel the power that public art has to educate, create, or change a community.