Project Overview

Orange Mound Community Center | District Mural Program | Orange Mound

UAC and the City of Memphis launched the second iteration of the District Mural Training Program in 2017 to provide mural training and professional development to seven Memphis-based artists, culminating in each artist creating their own $30,000 mural project in each of the seven Council districts. Training to support neighborhood engagement in the public art process, mural design, and installation techniques were provided in partnership with MuralArts Philadelphia in Memphis and Philadelphia following the artist selection in May 2018. Each artist was paired with a site across the city, including Bickford Community Center, Whitehaven Community Center, May Soccer Complex, Orange Mound Community Center, Mitchell Community Center, Raleigh Town Center, and Marion Hale Community Center.

About the Artist

Lawrence Matthews

Memphis, TN native Lawrence Matthews is a jack (artist) of all trades. He’s a visual artist, musician, film-maker, and storyteller of sorts. His work is largely influenced and is a reflection of his journey as an African descendant navigating life in America.

He almost didn’t apply for the District Mural Art Training Program because he “was tired of taking RFQ L’s” and not being accepted into a program. After being accepted, he mentioned how excited he was to make public art reflective of the community he’ll be working alongside.

This is preceded with the recent release of his second album, Contour, and a documentary, The Other Side of Broad, about the Binghampton community, exploring the transformation of two neighborhood schools from public schools to STEM and charter schools.