It was a gloomy, almost raining morning in October when I stood in the chic lobby of the JW Marriott in Grand Rapids, watching a lithe figure fast walking in a bright yellow slicker on the bridge over the Grand River towards me.

Somehow I knew my next two hours would be interesting and fun.

They were.

The energetic person I was meeting, Caroline Cook, is the owner of Grand Rapids Running Tours.  I’ve learned that she   can tell you almost anything you might want to know about our Midwestern city and more.  I’ve written about  her before.

We’re headed off to look at murals in the City of Grand Rapids, which there are many thanks to ArtPrize and civic projects.

Since Caroline started her tour business in 2014, she has done over 2,000 events.  With more than 70 topics on her web site,  Grand Rapids Running Tours,  she is clearly the go-to person for learning about our city.  The list keeps growing.

“I”m never finished,” she says.  “There’s always a new idea or new information to add.”

So, off we went to explore the “outdoor gallery” as she calls Grand Rapids.

First we look at Michael J. Mayosky’s ArtPrize entry on Monroe Mall.  Michael. J. Mayosky

“This is part of what I call “Art Prize Afterglow,”  says Caroline.  “We have many murals that have been done for Art Prize that were created to stay.

I like this one and have often wondered if it was an ArtPrize mural.

Not too far away, this bright yellow mural grabbed my attention.  I learned about the  Women’s Way Project sponsored by the Women’s History Council to promote women who have left their mark on Grand Rapids. Women’s Way

The one honoring Ether B. Coe is dramatic and colorful, created in the style of Super Hero comics because it reflects her spirit.

The Women’s Way Murals are in alleys  because we have no streets in Grand Rapids named for women.  In this project, five alleys were named to honor women.  A large mural is installed in each one.

An interesting one you won’t want to miss is on the same block as the Children’s Museum.  The entire alley is painted–walls and ceiling.   It’s right by my son’s Art Prize entry, the G-Rap map.

Another one is right by the Grand Rapids Police Station.

“It’s a safety thing,” explains Caroline.  “Women are taking back the alleyways. If an alley is attractive, it will draw more foot traffic and that tends to make the area safer.”

Entertainment was a theme of some of the murals we saw on our rainy day tour. For example, this is one by Michael J. Mayosky of a huge guitar.  I think it is really cool.

“What is funny about this one is that it rained when he was working on it and the paint dribbled,” Caroline says.  “He liked the look so he built it into his theme.”

Another really colorful one with musical motifs is on the Monroe Live building loading dock.  Unfortunately a truck was parked there so I couldn’t get a full view, but here are some parts and pieces of  very colorful mural.  The artist is Erick Picardo.  It was painted in 2017 for Art Prize.  Erick Picardo

I’m going back to look when a truck isn’t parked there.  I’d love to see more of his work.

There is another musical tribute around the corner.  The Gramapone by Nick Nortier.  (http://www.oldgrowthcreative.com)

Another tribute to women is the 2015 project called Rad American Women A -Z. The Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. (DGRI) commissioned local women artists  to paint portraits of influential women on electrical boxes.   Once you start looking for them, you’ll really enjoy seeing the tie to the alphabet and the book of the same name.  Rad American Women A-Z.

I’ve always enjoyed an early ArtPrize entry called Visualize, but this year a new one was added in the area. It’s on the outside of the restaurant MeXo facing Visualize and features a time line of history of pre-Hispanic culture.  The artist is Arturo Morales-Romero.  I was intrigued with the part clearly referencing the pandemic.  Arturo Morales-Romero

Nearby is the Rainbow Road by Joey Salamon, unveiled in 2019 to commemorate LGBTQ Pride month.  It’s the first official street mural in Grand Rapids.  Joey Salamon

It was such fun seeing these murals and according to Caroline there are 80 more on her Mural tours.

I plan to see them all.

Here’s link to a prior blog post about Caroline Cook and Grand Rapids Running Tours.  Can you tell I am a fan?

Grand Rapids Running Tours

Note from Susan 

Suitcase in hand, I’m out and about with no time to post. 

Hope you enjoy this description of murals in Grand Rapids.