Artist Statement

West End Remembers is a colorful addition to the neighborhood set against the overpass’s somber gray and the environment’s natural colors.

This mural was created based on an in-depth study of the history of the West End Area. The mural is not meant to be an extensive history of the region but a documentation of some important events and places in the neighborhood. The historical images are set according to the chronological order of historical events.

Favorite hopes the mural will inspire other visual documentation of the community to remind people of the rich heritage in the West End and their shared responsibility to preserve and appreciate their community.

“It gives the community a sense of importance and a constant artistic presence that greets you whenever you pass by. It is art that lives outside of the museums and galleries and enriches the whole community and those passing through. It’s art that belongs to everyone, art that does not discriminate between age, race, class, or cultural heritage. It belongs equally to the homeless as well as the community stakeholders…It has been a high honor for me to join with the BeltLine, Cleta Winslow, the Office of Cultural Affairs, and the community leaders to create this work. I put the brush strokes on the wall, and I drew the design, but it was years of careful planning and unseen hands that made this possible.” -Malaika Favorite