PEORIA, Ill. – People traveling on Adams St. in downtown Peoria will now be greeted by six big smiling faces.
It’s part of the new “Live Greater” mural on the Niagara Parking Deck from local artist Alex Carmona, dedicated at a ceremony Tuesday morning with city and community art leaders.
The mural features the six green-toned faces all smiling, using lines of various thickness to form its shape. Linse running perpendicular over the faces spell out “PEORIA” with one letter to one face.
Lynette Fernandes is one of the six people on the mural, and represents the “O.” She says it’s “surreal” to be a part of it.
“I’ve never been part of something this big. I’m involved in the community, but this is an honor,” Fernandes says. “And to be part of Peoria’s downtown space for, who knows how long, probably permanently if it lasts that long, I’m just honored and humbled.”
The other five residents shown include Edgar Sandavol, John Parks, Ben Davison, Alessandra Carmona, and Divine Sarfo.
Carmona says his intent was to show the “regular people” that you might see walking down the street throughout the community.
“We knew we didn’t want anybody of high-standing in any way, because we just wanted it to be a piece for everybody,” Carmona said.
Carmona says the process from conception to mural took nearly a year. He started the process by putting the piece on a block of wood, then transferring it to a stamp before it is stamped and colored. A printing company then digitized it before putting it on the final product.
Big Picture Peoria Vice President Mark Misselhorn says the location of the mural is perfect for downtown, calling it the city’s “living room.” Peoria Mayor Rita Ali called the mural a moment for civil pride, celebration, and community, and noted that her favorite part of the artwork is the smiles from all six of the models in it.
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