Envision Arts Center unveils quilt-themed new mural

When Envision Arts moved across the river from downtown Wichita to Delano, it inherited a mural. An axe-wielding Carry Nation made sense for axe-throwing bar Blade and Timber, the suite's previous tenant; less so for an art center and gallery dedicated to artists who are blind or low vision.

Brickmob co-founder Chris Garcia poses with the mural that once graced the back side of 535 W. Douglas Ave. Photo courtesy of Brickmob.

The new mural is a design collaboration between Envision Arts staff and both Heartspring and Envision participants, whose paper quilt blocks are on view in the front galleries.

"Inspired by the rich tradition of quilting, each square reflects an individual voice while contributing to a larger story of connection, creativity, and belonging," reads the accompanying gallery text.

Envision Arts staff incorporated some of the designs into the border of the mural, titled "Envision Your City."

The works in "Stitching Community Together: Community Quilt Books" were created by participants from Heartstring and Envision Arts. Some of these designs are included in the new mural at Envision Arts Center's new location, 535 W. Douglas Ave. Photo by Emily Christensen for The SHOUT.

The center blocks of the "quilt" feature icons that reference landmarks around town: Delano's clock tower, the Sedgwick County Zoo, Botanica, Wichita's industrial corridor, the Riverside Park Pagoda, and Wichita State's outdoor sculpture collection, among others.

Each center "quilt block" pays homage to an iconic Wichita landmark. Photo by Emily Christensen for The SHOUT.

Envision Arts gallery coordinator Eva Cummings received an Arts Activation grant from the City of Wichita for the project, which is in a high-traffic location: The art center is just north of Equity Bank Park. Naturally, the mural includes a reference to the home of the Wichita Wind Surge-slash-Turbo Tubs. — Emily Christensen

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