SOUTH BEND — With the unveiling of a new mural, a wall on South Bend’s West Side has been marked in honor of community members who left their own mark on the city.
The mural, on the side of Faith Deliverance Center, 1415 Lincoln Way W., features portraits of myriad influential community members. But the mural’s four most prominent portraits belong to South Bend boxer Harold Brazier, community leader Gladys Muhammad, youth-development leader Charles Martin and Rosemary Sanders, the first Black musician to join the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.
During a celebration and dedication on Thursday, Aug. 6, muralist and Clay High School alumnus Oscar Joyo said he braved hours of scorching sun to finish the piece as part of South Bend’s fourth annual Mural Mania festival, but he’s thankful for the opportunity to honor some of the city’s heroes.
Held in partnership with Faith Deliverance Center and the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Social Concerns, Thursday’s dedication brought together dozens of attendees, some of them friends and family of the individuals depicted in the mural.
Joyo said the piece’s patterns and designs between the portraits pay homage to his Malawian heritage, meant to evoke ripples representing the impact those individuals have had. And the bright colors are meant to celebrate the vibrancy of those shown in the mural, he said.
Joyo said he hopes his mural shows people that “South Bend is a vibrant community that’s ever-growing.”
One of the portraits depicts Faith Deliverance Center’s pastor, the Rev. Darryl Murdock, and his wife Kathleen Murdock, both of whom spoke during the celebration.
Darryl Murdock said the mural is “an inspirational wall” full of people who have worked tirelessly to make South Bend a better place. South Bend Mayor James Mueller also spoke, describing those honored in the mural as “true icons of South Bend.”
During her remarks, Muhammad reflected on her childhood growing up near a local dump on South Bend’s West Side. And, she said, the mural is proof that “us dump kids made it.”
When asked what was going through his mind when he was tasked with painting the mural, Joyo said, “sheer panic.”
“I treat this very seriously, because I’m not only capturing their life, I’m trying to capture their essence,” Joyo said, adding that even though some of the individuals he painted are no longer alive, “what they’ve done in their lifetime, who they inspired, who they uplifted, how much they gave up in this life is still there.”
Email South Bend Tribune staff reporter Rayleigh Deaton at rdeaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: ‘Inspiration wall.’ South Bend mural honors West Side local leaders
Reporting by Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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By Rayleigh Deaton, South Bend Tribune | USA TODAY Network
