CGN grant money makes creative Covington projects possible

The Center for Great Neighborhoods recently announced the recipients of eight Creative Community grants, which total over $35,000. The grants will go toward artistic and creative projects in Covington, with six of them happening in its Westside neighborhood.

216 Pike Art Wall ($5,000)
A new wall across from an open lot at 216 Pike St. will be used to display public art. The wall will include flower boxes, lighting at night and an overhang to shelter people and the artwork. Christopher J. Meyer will curate the art and will solicit work from local artists and rotate the display on a monthly basis. The art wall will prevent non-resident access to the lot, which will help improve what's been a nuisance space that attracted negative attention.

Analemmatic Sundial & Solar Light ($5,000)
David Rice will use the sun’s rays to address safety in Westside. The interactive sundial will be a 12-foot-by-6-foot half-circle, and people will use their bodies to provide the shadow-casting object to tell time. The other part of the project is installing a solar light on top of the sundial to illuminate the parking lot on Orchard Street, making it more safe and inviting.

Art on 12th ($4,321.25)
Julia Martin will install lighted artwork in the windows of an empty building on 12th Street. The original art will be created by Martin or by students in one of her community art classes. The space will also feature an Art Walk to view the pieces as well and create safety through community interaction.

B Visible: See and B Seen ($4,595)
The Coder and Maker Group for the Kenton County Library will host workshops for Covington residents and students to create clothing and bike accessories that will increase the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. There will also be a fashion show to celebrate Bike Month and Covington’s bicentennial.

CYC Crosswalk Campaign ($3,175)
The Covington Youth Commission will address safety for kids and other pedestrians on the streets around John G. Carlisle Elementary School by installing artwork in the crosswalks. They’ll be working with artist and Holmes High School teacher Donny Roundtree and youth leaders in the school's BLOCK program to design and paint the crosswalks.

Goats in Goebel ($5,000)
Gus Wolf and Lauren VanDyke Wolf will bring goats to the hillside in Goebel Park to eat and eliminate overgrowth and invasive plant species.

Orchard Park Swing ($5,000)
A group swing will be permanently placed in Orchard Park, which is currently a vacant lot. Lauren DiFulvio Wolf will donate her photography skills to hold a one-day community session and then display the prints in and around the park to attract attention and remind visitors of the neighborhood’s energy and diversity.

Pones in Public ($3,500)
The grant will be used to fund eight Pones Inc. performances that will encourage families, groups and strangers to express creativity. The performances will be free and integrated into existing community activities.
 
The funding for the Creative Community grants is made possible by The Kresge Foundation, which has given CGN a multi-year grant for creative placemaking initiatives in Covington. Other Kresge-funded projects include improving the 12th Street corridor, the rehabilitation of the historic Hellmann Lumber Mill, creating more housing opportunities and continuing to combat blight and stabilize the city.