Martin Luther King Jr. honored with murals in Steubenville
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STEUBENVILLE -- Kyle Holbrook is no stranger to the city of Steubenville.
An internationally recognized muralist, Holbrook’s work has been appearing on walls around the city for many years.
His two latest works, murals celebrating the work of Martin Luther King Jr., were dedicated along Seventh Street Friday.
“Unity -- they bring people together, and unity is the key word,” Jim Baber, president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association, said before the ceremony began in front of the mural located on the side of the Little Snack Shack, which stands at the intersection of Seventh and North streets.
The murals -- the second is located just a few blocks away, on the side of David Walker American Legion Post 274 at the intersection of Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue -- were created through a partnership between the MLK Association and Holbrook’s MLK Mural Project.
“What makes that location especially significant is that it serves as the gateway to Steubenville,” Mark Gregory explained during the ceremony. “Everyone entering the city will have the opportunity to acknowledge Holbrook’s mural and reflect on the messages that it represents. What a wonderful way to welcome people into our community with a reminder of justice, equality and humanity.”
The mural on the side of the Little Snack Shack carries a personal touch, Gregory said. Several weeks ago, local residents were given the opportunity to stop by the site and create their own message using orange paint, which is the official color of the gun violence awareness movement.
“We are deeply grateful to the Little Snack Shack for allowing this beautiful tribute to become part of their establishment,” Gregory said. “This mural represents something truly special: Participation, shared voices and collective responsibility.
“From a distance, you see another magnificent portrait, but as you move closer something extraordinary happens. You begin to discover the individual messages left behind by members of the community. Every message represents a voice, every voice represents a person and every person represents a part of the community who wants to see a better, safer and more united future,” he added.
Holbrook was not able to attend Friday’s dedication. He’s currently in Miami working on another project. He did say in a press release that the murals offer important reminders to those who see them.
“African American history is American history,” Holbrook said. “These murals are about more than honoring Martin Luther King Jr. They are about making sure that his message remains visible in our neighborhoods and that young people understand the importance of the sacrifices made by those who have come before them. Public art gives communities an opportunity to celebrate their history while inspiring future generations.”
Ed Littlejohn is the owner of the Little Snack Shack. He was thanked by the association for making the side of his building available for Holbrook to paint on. He said he had a simple answer when he was approached by Sharon Kirtdoll about the possibility of hosting a mural: “She just asked us, and we said yes,” he explained after the ceremony.
Much of the funding for the two murals came from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Foundation, Cydnie Howard, treasurer of the MLK association, said. She added that Mayor Ralph Petrella and members of City Council were involved in the project as well.
Petrella said the murals send a powerful message to everyone who sees them.
“This is a great moment for Steubenville,” he said. “We are the most diverse city in the region, so having these and presenting this as our city and making it inclusive to all races who live here is just a beautiful thing.”
Former Mayor Jerry Barilla said King remains an inspiration.
“For me, this mural and this man, in my view, is in the top five men in history,” Barilla explained. “He represents hope. That’s the whole thing about his message -- that we can achieve that city on the hill.”
First Ward Councilman Dave Albaugh and Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo said that the murals serve as reminders and are important additions to the city.
“They serve as reminders of King’s dream, his legacy and the importance of unity, equality and love,” Albaugh said while thanking Post 274 and Littlejohn for allowing their buildings to be used. “By opening your walls to this project, you have helped turn everyday spaces into places of inspiration. It also encourages a greater appreciation for art and its ability to bring everyone together.”
Mayo said the Nov. 3 elections have offered hope that the mood of the country is changing, pointing to the election of Democrat Scott Colom of Mississippi as that state’s first Black senator since reconstruction and Democrat Adam Hamilton of Kansas to the Senate, who he said seems to want justice, fairness and equality.
“We have to keep fighting for these things, because if we don’t, we’ll end up in a bad place,” Mayo said. “We have to fight for what for what King stood for in Steubenville, not just to honor his legacy, but to continue it.”
Steubenville High School Principal Aaron Newman said the work of King played a major role in his life while he was growing up and added he was honored to be a part of the ceremony.
“I am so blessed to have grown up in a household where my parents intentionally exposed me to his teachings. I can remember being a young man and hearing his speeches and getting goosebumps,” Newman said. “They moved me emotionally as a young man, and they move me still today. As the principal, it is imperative for me not just to expose students to, but remember his message.”
Subjects of Holbrook’s other murals in Steubenville include Moses Fleetwood Walker, Lewis and Clark, community efforts to stop gun violence and restoration work involving the Steubenville Female Seminary mural.
On Wednesday, it was announced he will be recreating the Tuskegee Airmen mural on the side of the Antique Warehouse, next to where Oyo Brewing Co. will be opening its complex next summer. The mural was lost when the former Elks Club building on Washington Street was torn down earlier this year.
Baber explained the MLK association has additional projects in mind for the Seventh Street corridor, which has been designated by the city as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.