Stella Maris Mural
Project Snapshot
Location: Stella Maris, Flats West Bank, Cleveland, Ohio
Project Type: Public Art Commission
Artist: Michael "Birdcap" Roy
Role: Project Initiator and Public Art Project Manager
Commissioning Organization: Graffiti HeArt
Completion: 2022
Stakeholders: Graffiti HeArt, Stella Maris, Artist, City of Cleveland Planning Commission, Neighborhood Stakeholders, and Community Members
Image: Courtesy of the artist
Project Goal
The Stella Maris Mural was conceived as a public art initiative intended to activate a highly visible wall facing the Flats West Bank while supporting the mission of Stella Maris, a longstanding community-serving organization on Cleveland's waterfront.
Working with Graffiti HeArt, I initiated the project and helped establish a framework for commissioning a nationally recognized artist to create a site-specific mural that would contribute to Cleveland's growing public-art landscape while enhancing the visibility and identity of the organization.
The project sought to demonstrate how strategic public-art investments can create cultural value, strengthen neighborhood identity, and support nonprofit organizations through placemaking and community engagement.
Context
For more than a century, Stella Maris has served individuals and families connected to Cleveland's waterfront communities. Located in the Flats West Bank, the organization occupies a highly visible site along one of the city's most historically significant corridors.
Recognizing the potential of the building's east-facing façade, I worked with Graffiti HeArt to develop a public-art opportunity that would transform the wall into a landmark visible from surrounding streets, bridges, and public spaces.
The project ultimately brought internationally recognized artist Michael "Birdcap" Roy to Cleveland. Known for his vibrant visual language and large-scale murals, Birdcap developed a site-specific artwork that introduced a new cultural landmark to the neighborhood while contributing to the ongoing revitalization of Cleveland's waterfront districts.
Leadership and Project Management
As project initiator and public art project manager, I guided the project from concept development through municipal approvals.
Key responsibilities included:
Identified and developed the mural opportunity in partnership with Graffiti HeArt and Stella Maris.
Established project goals, scope, and implementation framework.
Facilitated artist selection and project development discussions.
Served as primary liaison between the artist, nonprofit stakeholders, and city reviewers.
Coordinated project schedules and approval milestones.
Prepared materials required for municipal review and design approval.
Represented the project during City of Cleveland review processes.
Managed stakeholder communication throughout project development.
Facilitated design feedback and project approvals.
Supported project implementation and completion.
Project Delivery
Initiation
Identified the opportunity to integrate public art into a prominent community-facing site and developed the project concept in collaboration with Graffiti HeArt and Stella Maris leadership.
Established project objectives focused on placemaking, community visibility, and cultural enrichment.
Planning
Coordinated artist engagement, project scope, and review requirements.
Developed an approval strategy that aligned artistic goals with organizational objectives and municipal requirements.
Prepared project materials necessary for stakeholder review and city approval.
Execution
Facilitated communication among the artist, nonprofit leadership, Graffiti HeArt, and municipal review agencies.
Managed project development and design review processes.
Supported alignment between artistic vision, community context, and project objectives.
Monitoring and Control
Tracked project milestones and approval deadlines.
Managed stakeholder feedback and design-review comments.
Resolved issues affecting project progression and approval readiness.
Closeout
Supported successful completion of the municipal approval process and project implementation.
Documented project outcomes and facilitated transition to completed public artwork.
Outcomes
The Stella Maris Mural transformed a previously underutilized façade into a highly visible public artwork and established a new cultural landmark within Cleveland's Flats West Bank.
The project successfully connected a nonprofit community institution, a national-caliber artist, and a public-art organization through a collaborative process that enhanced both place and community identity.
The mural further demonstrated the value of public art as a tool for neighborhood revitalization, cultural visibility, and civic engagement while contributing to Cleveland's expanding network of public artworks.
Reflection
The Stella Maris Mural reinforced the importance of initiative in public-art practice. While the completed artwork serves as the project's most visible outcome, the project's success depended on recognizing an opportunity, building stakeholder support, navigating approval processes, and creating the conditions necessary for artists and organizations to collaborate effectively.
This project reflects an ongoing aspect of my practice: creating frameworks that connect artists, institutions, and communities to realize projects that generate lasting public value. Whether working in public art, museums, or civic design, I am most interested in building the relationships and processes that allow ambitious ideas to become reality.