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Do IT this week: Layering
Auto-parts store paints over happy scene that Miller South students created in 2007
By Bob Dyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Oct 16, 2009
So much for posterity.
In the summer of 2007, about 30 students from Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts devoted four Saturdays to painting a huge mural on the side of a store in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood.
At the time, the 114-foot-deep building was the site of a Blockbuster, the national movie-rental chain. Now it's the future home of an AutoZone, the national auto-parts chain.
AutoZone brought in commercial painters last week to begin covering the mural with wide horizontal stripes in its well-known corporate colors — white, gray and orange.
So now the building at 1935 W. Market St. looks just like the other 4,000 AutoZones across the country. And the kids who thought they were creating something long-lasting have learned some lessons about art, life and Fortune 500 corporations.
The mural wasn't exactly the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but it was cool, a
rambling scene featuring an assortment of trees. The kids included creative quirks — mice coming out of cracks in the concrete block, huge ladybugs and a big paintbrush.
Most of the work near the bottom of the 20-foot-high wall was done by the youngest kids, while the older ones, along with siblings and parents, climbed around on scaffolding.
The public generally loved it. A cashier at the CVS pharmacy next door said this week that a number of customers had commented on the mural's demise. ''It's a shame,'' he said. ''The kids worked hard on it.''
Perhaps no one worked harder than Steve Csejtey (pronounced SHAY-tay), an art teacher at Firestone High School whose younger daughter attends Miller South.
As a fourth-grader, Morgan Csejtey won a citywide contest to create a slogan for an Arbor Day celebration. Morgan's theme — ''Akron is your canvas, paint it with trees'' — was carried over to the mural.
But her father says neither he nor his daughter is losing much sleep.
Learning experience
''As an art teacher,'' he says, ''we talk about how not everything lasts forever. There's a learning experience in making the art, and we enjoy it, and this represents where you are right now, but after a while, you need to move on.''
Other folks aren't nearly as philosophical.
Mike and Becky Shaughnessy initiated the project. Their business, Unique Paint Designs, donated $1,200 of the cost, which they peg at about $4,000 — not including labor. Work began most days at 8 a.m. and ran until 6 or 7 at night.
Even before the participants broke out the paint, they met for four consecutive Saturdays to plan the design.
Mike Shaughnessy knew the mural wouldn't last until the end of time. He was told at the outset that if the building eventually were leased to another firm, the enormous wall might be repainted. But he certainly didn't think all that work would be trashed in two years.
''When Sherwin-Williams donated the paint [about $800 worth], they donated their higher end, the good stuff,'' Shaughnessy says. ''I think it would have lasted a couple of decades.''
A number of other local businesses contributed materials and equipment. It was a feel-good project from start to finish.
Says Shaughnessy: ''I think they [AutoZone] made a mistake getting rid of it because they will get bad feedback from the community.''
That's for sure.
Corporate response
A spokeswoman for AutoZone, Brenda Berry, claims someone in local government was asked whether painting over the mural would be OK. But when pressed for the names of the asker and the responder, she turned highly elusive, failing to return three phone calls placed over two days.
In any event, after doing the wrong thing, AutoZone turned around and did the right thing.
When Miller South principal Alyce Altwies learned the mural was being covered up, she made an emergency call to the city to appeal for help. The city immediately swung into action, contacting AutoZone and requesting a temporary halt.
AutoZone quickly complied. The trouble was, half of the mural had already been covered.
The company offered to let the kids repaint the mural, but, as Altwies notes, duplicating that enormous undertaking would not be feasible, especially with winter fast approaching. And the fourth- to eighth-graders who drew the scenes have moved on to other stages of their young lives.
Csejtey, the Firestone teacher, says one AutoZone official ''suggested that maybe we could just have some kids do something that uses their logo — which is completely out of bounds. We don't [use] our kids for advertising. That really downplays all the effort that goes into a huge project to begin with.''
Alternative sought
As an alternative, AutoZone offered to donate cash for another public mural elsewhere in the city. But as of Thursday afternoon, no agreement had been reached.
AutoZone's Berry said the company wants to find an alternative that will please the city and the school, but declined to be more specific.
Deputy Mayor Dave Lieberth says he was ''pleasantly surprised'' at the speed and seriousness of AutoZone's response.
''It would have been better had they made a phone call first to determine whether or not there was a lot invested in that work of art,'' Lieberth says. ''But since they didn't, being appropriately responsible, they've now offered to do something in its place, which is a good thing. . . .
''Everybody makes mistakes, and they're trying to be responsible about it.''
Before vanishing, company spokeswoman Berry insisted that no one at corporate headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., was aware of the mural. ''Knowing AutoZone,'' she said, ''I would feel pretty confident it would have been handled differently if it was brought to our attention in advance.''
The logical person to have brought it to the company's attention is commercial real-estate broker Chris McFarland, vice president of leasing for Levey & Co. in Akron. McFarland failed to return three calls to his office and cell phones.
Trees grow old and die. So do murals. But they shouldn't come to a premature end without a darned good reason.
And in this case, nobody can come up with one.
Bob Dyer can be reached at 330-996-3580 or bdyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
So much for posterity.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Akron, OH
Posted 04:58 AM, 10/16/2009
So after they realized the error of their ways, nobody thought to keep the half they hadn't destroyed and paint new mural back over the institutional gray? Why don't they let kids paint over it this coming spring? Winter doesn't last forever (oh wait, this is Akron, where it it always winter and never spring).
Akron, OH
Posted 06:03 AM, 10/16/2009
Tag it . . . over and over again!
mayberry, oh
Posted 06:11 AM, 10/16/2009
auto zone gave a acceptable response I will shop there
Front Line, KC
Posted 06:44 AM, 10/16/2009
SO
Akron, OH
Posted 06:56 AM, 10/16/2009
Better the kids learn now.
Posted 07:13 AM, 10/16/2009
My opinion - two years was long enough to see the mural and 'change is good'. To AutoZone - Welcome to Walhaven!
akron, oh
Posted 08:03 AM, 10/16/2009
@commuter1950 - Nicely said. It's over, time to move on.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:39 AM, 10/16/2009
It's sad the mural is gone. It was pretty neat. However, I am glad that another business is going into Walhaven so quickly, especially in this dismal economy. Now I can shop at a safe store instead of going to the South Hawkins store. Welcome to the neighborhood Autozone!
akron, oh
Posted 08:48 AM, 10/16/2009
AutoZone's Berry said the company wants to find an alternative that will please the city and the school, but declined to be more specific.
Perhaps this company should have never allowed the mural to be painted on it's building in the first place.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:58 AM, 10/16/2009
@majykman775,
Agree completely. I drive over to the State Rd. store just to feel safe. I welcome Autozone with open arms to our neck of the woods. I just wish their "introduction to the neighborhood" had a more positive spin.
Oh well.
:0)
Akron, OH
Posted 09:06 AM, 10/16/2009
Hope somebody had the foresight to take a photo after the mural was initially completed. Certainly an art teacher who knows that "not everything lasts forever" should have thought of that.
Posted 09:06 AM, 10/16/2009
So the spokesperson for AutoZone flat out LIED about asking about the mural, and when asked details about who she spoke to, she vanishes? Doesn't surprise me one bit! Also, I think it's RIDICULOUS that AutoZone would try to get those kids to paint something with THEIR logo! One AutoZone official ''suggested that maybe we could just have some kids do something that uses their logo — which is completely out of bounds. We don't [use] our kids for advertising. That really downplays all the effort that goes into a huge project to begin with.'' This was supposed to be a painting celebrating Arbor Day, not kids can do free advertising for AutoZone, the jerks who destroyed the mural in the first place!! AutoZone destroys the mural, and their resolution is to have them paint something for THEIR company. Yeah, RIGHT!! AutoZone should have simply left it all alone. Alll that work those kids did....all that time....WASTED! I will never shop at AutoZone. Never did before, DEFINITELY won't now.
Posted 09:12 AM, 10/16/2009
Lisa, business is business. How about Autozone simply takes their business elsewhere so simpletons as yourself can look at a mural....I am sure there are other property owners that would love to sell Autozone their building.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:14 AM, 10/16/2009
somehow this has to be the mayors fault
Akron, OH
Posted 09:19 AM, 10/16/2009
Autozone manned up to their mistake. Offering up an alternative to make things right. The mural was nice. I drove past it every day. But after a while it becomes like anything else. I welcome Autozone the area and am also glad that I don't have to go to one of the other Autozones in the area.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:25 AM, 10/16/2009
@Lisa, you do not know the AutoZone employee lied about talking to a government official.
Newton Falls, Oh
Posted 10:00 AM, 10/16/2009
Who owns the building? End of conversation.
Posted 10:16 AM, 10/16/2009
Sorry. I drive by this building multiple times a day and I hadnt even noticed that the mural was gone.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:23 AM, 10/16/2009
I am glad it is gone. It looked way too ghetto/inner city to me, even if kids did do it.
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:34 AM, 10/16/2009
Ho Hum
Copley, OH
Posted 11:15 AM, 10/16/2009
I drove past that bldg at least once a week. Don't even remember the mural. Couldn't the Beacon include a photo of the mural in the article? I feel badly for the students and the benefactors that donated supplies. But the mistake is done. A donation to the arts dept. at Miller So. would be a nice gesture. Welcome to the neighborhood, AutoZone! Glad you have confidence in our area to establish another store. Hope you have great success!
NorthernWestVirginny, WV
Posted 11:25 AM, 10/16/2009
Maryann...it wasn't their building when the mural was painted. Did you read the article??
NorthernWestVirginny, WV
Posted 11:27 AM, 10/16/2009
Maryann...yes, after double checking, that info was in the first 2 paragraphs.
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:38 AM, 10/16/2009
i drive over to the state road store just to feel safe ! huh ????
Akron, Oh
Posted 11:45 AM, 10/16/2009
to be honest i really like the new look !
welcome to the neighborhood and see you soon!,rjf
Stow, OH
Posted 11:52 AM, 10/16/2009
Some wise fellow said, "The only thing permanent is change".
People had a chance to enjoy the mural for two years. It was naive to think that the mural would survive after a new owner (or tenant) took over the building. If the mural was so important, then Blockbuster should have made that clear to AutoZone as a condition of the sale. It seems like a perfectly normal thing for a new business to paint building in the company colors. Also, did anyone from Miller-South contact AutoZone once the building was sold to discuss the mural?
Posted 12:27 PM, 10/16/2009
With soldiers being killed and politicians stealling our money, this is the important news of the day?
Akron, OH
Posted 12:46 PM, 10/16/2009
@rjf,
Yes, I do feel safe at Autozone on State Road. As compared to Autozone at the corner of Hawkins and Vernon Odom. Yikes!
It is all a matter of context.
:0)
Akron, OH
Posted 02:22 PM, 10/16/2009
Once again, the comments here posted on this article confirm my perception of Akron as a backward little town, living up to all of the stereotypes of the red midwest. The owners of the building have every right to do whatever they wish. But the overall outcome is that this is a town that simply has no concept of a public space and certainly no sensibility towards art or those who would promote the arts with our children. Well, I'm glad all the auto-jocks are happy.
As for myself, I look forward to the day when I am able to leave this ugly little town.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:24 PM, 10/16/2009
Finally! It wasn't that I didn't feel safe at Wooster/Hawkins, (And they do have the advantage of having two other auto parts stores within a half a block) but Wallhaven is way closer to home! About time there is an auto parts store on the far west!!
Orrville, Oh
Posted 05:40 PM, 10/16/2009
Reality demands: AutoZone market cost; of students painting mural; in the wholesale and retail price of AutoZone product and service; to enable students; to pay for EVERY product and service; with money; derived; from painting mural; they use for life!
Akron, OH
Posted 05:55 PM, 10/16/2009
What about removing the paint and restoring the mural? Might some art student use this for practice of doing just that with AutoZone providing the money for the removal and restoration supplies?
Autozone certainly knows how to remind one not to shop there.
everywhere, oh
Posted 06:38 PM, 10/16/2009
Loren's:left;Sterling,;;the;;;spaceship;;has;:;:
touchdowned;;in::Orrville.)()*&^^%&^$#$#%^
akron, oh
Posted 10:52 PM, 10/16/2009
the mural is a lost piece of art. i should know, I worked on it. I know many of you wont read this because i m only 12, but a friend of mine was going to work on the mural. she missed 4 important soccer games for it and now that its gone it seems a waste. i live 2 blocks down from the mural and one day when i was riding my bike i saw it being covered up. it was horrible to see all that work go down the drain. and what auto zone wants is to get better publicity with the neighborhood. why else would it want to let kids paint the auto zone symbol? they only want people to think that they're sorry so that they will buy from them and get free labor with the attached publicity. Auto zone will stay in business a few months and then leave. and did i mention that now the mural's gone that it means the very neighborly teens in the back area will most likely cover the ugly walls with spray paint?
so now that all that paint was wasted, what do you think we should ruin next?
akron, oh
Posted 10:56 PM, 10/16/2009
@ Lisa
RIGHT ON !!!! i worked on the mural and think you are absolutely right
Akron, OH
Posted 03:25 AM, 10/17/2009
Loren-
"Reality demands: AutoZone market cost; of students painting mural; in the wholesale and retail price of AutoZone product and service"
What? Market the cost of students? Are you high?
Posted 04:43 AM, 10/17/2009
so
Eastlake, oh
Posted 06:02 AM, 10/17/2009
@gdwymer:
Why don't you leave now...and don't let the door hit you on the glutes on the way out!
akron, OH
Posted 08:16 AM, 10/17/2009
The mural was nice, but like other murals, billboards, and many other outdoor displays, it never looked like it was intended to be there forever. And Auto-Zone's carelessness is nothing more than large corporate bureaucracy at work. Much easier to ask for forgiveness than to expend valuable resources trying to do what's right first.
Stow, OH
Posted 11:34 AM, 10/17/2009
To gdwymer: Thank you for the time you are spending here among us uncultured unwashed masses. I do believe that we can learn but recognize, as do you, that we indigenous folks are limited in our capacity. I believe that life here is indeed beneath you and hope that you are able to move to a place that is better suited to person as refined as yourself.
barberton, oh
Posted 03:08 PM, 10/17/2009
autozone should give a can of spray paint to all the hood and let them ghetto paint the ZONE sign
barberton, oh
Posted 03:09 PM, 10/17/2009
Lisa hope your car quits right in front of and in the ZONE
Akron, OH
Posted 03:46 PM, 10/17/2009
@eek, if the mural was meant to last forever, the adults in charge would have located a location that was controlled by the school or another organization that would have long roots in the area, and not a business that has every right to sell. AutoZone had no responsibility to keep it and I doubt their sales will be effected by painting over it.
Posted 10:18 PM, 10/17/2009
DYER IS A QUART LOW........DIPSTICK.....RETREAD....
THIS STUFF WRITES ITSELF...
Akron, OH
Posted 10:40 PM, 10/17/2009
Pictures of the mural, before, during, and after the kids project are posted at AkronMurals.com
