A new mural is being unveiled in downtown Buchanan this Saturday, June 7.
Live Buchanan teamed up with the Buchanan District Library for the public art, which is right on the side of the library on Days Avenue. Library Director Meg Paulette Perez tells us Live Buchanan commissioned artist Justin Johnson, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, for the mural. It seeks to honor Native American Culture.
“What’s kind of cool about this is that it is actually a banner system,” Perez said. “So there’s six panels across the library building on Days Avenue. And these banners are stretched so they really look like a painting, but we’re able to switch out the art every year.”
Perez says the mural is the second that’s been painted on that side of the library as they intend to have a different mural there every year.
“This year, Justin Johnson created some art pieces for us that have to do with Great Lakes animals and the environment. So, they’re really neat, they’re really colorful, and we’re very happy to have them on the side of our building.”
The piece draws from the Woodland, or “Legend Painting” style — a powerful visual tradition of the First Nations. It’s Johnson’s first public mural installation.
Perez says they’ll celebrate completion of the mural at 6 p.m. Saturday, and they’re hoping plenty of people come out.
The colorful artwork ought to help liven up the area, which is currently under construction. The mural is part of “Art on Days,” the program seeking to have a new mural on the library each year.
Anyone who wants to donate to the initiative can contact the Buchanan District Library.
