DETROIT, March 8,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
- Mural outside Stellantis' Mack Assembly Plant reflects
community's residents, history
- Detroit artist Dr.
Hubert Massey's designs feature
iconic images, local landmarks
- Images inspired by local residents and Southeastern High School
students
- One of the largest art installations in region at more than
1,500 feet long
- Stellantis partnered with Commercial Contracting Corporation
and PPG on project
Stellantis is honoring the legacy of Detroit's east side through art with an
impressive mural, recently completed by renowned muralist Dr.
Hubert Massey and his team of
Detroit-based artists.
The mural, which spans more than 1,500 feet on the surface of
the sound barrier outside Stellantis' Detroit Assembly Complex -
Mack plant along Beniteau Street, features stunning imagery of
iconic local landmarks and the people who shaped the community.
"This is an amazing opportunity to celebrate this great
community on the east side," said Dr. Massey, a Detroit resident.
The mural project is part of the Community Benefits Agreement
(CBA) reached between Stellantis, the city of Detroit and the Neighborhood Advisory
Committee in 2019 when the company committed to building the first
new assembly plant in the city in more than 30 years. Commercial
Contracting Corporation (CCC) and PPG partnered with Stellantis and
Dr. Massey on the project, providing equipment and supplies.
"The mural is really spectacular and we're grateful to Dr.
Massey for capturing this community's culture and history,
resulting in some truly stunning artwork," said Ron Stallworth, public affairs lead for
Wayne County, Stellantis North
America. "And we're grateful to our neighbors in the community for
sharing their stories with us and allowing us to bring this amazing
project to fruition."
One section of the mural pays tribute to local civil rights
pioneer Sarah Elizabeth Ray, a Black
woman who was denied a seat on one of the Boblo ferries and
subsequently won her fight for integration before the U.S. Supreme
Court. In another piece, the faces of several men are featured,
representing another historic neighborhood mural "The Wall of
Dignity."
"It was so important to have those in the mural; they're part of
the narrative and the history of the community," Dr. Massey
said.
Another section displays a man standing alongside a classic
Dodge truck. The man and truck image represents an "everyman," but
honors a former resident of the area. His son watched the creation
of the first mural and provided Dr. Massey with a photo of his late
father Henry Williams, an employee
at the former Chrysler plant. The son, Francisco Williams, was moved upon seeing his
family and neighborhood history captured so beautifully in the
mural.
"Every time I look at this, it makes me want to cry," Williams
said, noting that the house pictured in the background of the scene
on the mural is his eastside childhood home where he was born and
raised.
According to Dr. Massey, he had many, similar positive
interactions with community members throughout the creative process
and painting the mural.
"It's those types of stories and those types of things that
really resonate in the community, in how this community really
embraced the mural," Dr. Massey said. "They were truly excited
about it because it tells their story and celebrates this community
to the highest level."
The northern section of the mural runs adjacent to Southeastern
High School, so it's no surprise that the educational landmark is
well represented in the artwork. While working on the project, Dr.
Massey sat down with Southeastern art students to get some
inspiration for what they thought best represented their school and
community.
The result is a majestic display of the school's mascot, the
Jungaleers, proudly represented through a trio of ferocious
roaring, purple-maned lions. An image of the historic school
building and its 3030 address on Fairview Street is also
displayed.
"The students were very enthusiastic about some of the things
that they wanted to see," Dr. Massey said. "They took a lot of
pride in it, because that's their school."
Other featured images include the carousel on the Detroit
Riverwalk and the city's 313 area code.
Stellantis North America
Stellantis (NYSE: STLA) is one of the world's leading
automakers, aiming to provide clean, safe and affordable freedom of
mobility for all. In North
America, it's best known for producing and selling vehicles
in a portfolio of iconic, innovative and award-winning brands,
including Jeep®, Chrysler, Dodge//SRT, Ram, Alfa Romeo and Fiat.
Stellantis is executing its Dare Forward 2030, a bold strategic
plan that paves the way to achieve the ambitious target of becoming
a carbon net zero mobility tech company by 2038, while creating
added value for all stakeholders.
Follow company news and video on:
Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Company website: www.stellantis.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/Stellantis
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SOURCE Stellantis