Mural Project Brings Beauty to Saginaw

A small group of committed, passionate women is changing the landscape of Saginaw.

The mission of The Great Mural Project is to beautify underutilized spaces in Saginaw through a collaborative communitywide effort. The project was founded by Jamie Forbes, director of external affairs at Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services; Cassi Miller, business development manager at Saginaw Future Inc.; Dawn Goodrow Hillier, owner of the dawn of a new day coffee house; and Alayna Wesener, marketing manager at McLaren Bay Region.

“Our focus is Saginaw as a whole, but thus far we have stuck to the riverfront area,” said Miller.

The group’s first project was a 48-foot-by-16-foot mural on the south side of a building on Washington Avenue near Genesee Street. The following year, the group completed a 12-foot-by-24-foot mural on the north side of Fralia’s Restaurant in Saginaw’s historic Old Town district. Members then partnered with two other organizations on a mural that encompasses the entire east side of the Court Street Bridge underpass.

Miller said that all projects are solely based upon partnerships garnered in the community.

“Ultimately, it all comes down to who is willing to work with us and what grants are available,” she said. “We are so thankful for the incredible support that we’ve received from the community, either participating in an advisory group or volunteering to paint. We strive to keep the process simple and let the artists have as much freedom in design as possible.”