RO DDA’s Painting Project underway with 2 approved murals

ROYAL OAK — Two muralists have been approved to start painting in the downtown area after the unanimous decision of the City Commission at its Sept. 23 meeting.

The murals came in front of the commission because of the Downtown Development Authority’s Painting Downtown Project that “aims to enrich the city’s urban environment with artworks that reflect the community’s values, diversity, and creativity,” according to the project’s final proposal.

Throughout the fiscal year 2024-2025, which started July 1, the project will serve as a pilot program targeting areas of high traffic and public engagement for the initial mural installations.

One of the paintings approved at the Sept. 23 meeting will be located on the side of Cacao Tree Cafe at 204 W. Fourth St. The second mural will be located on the Noir Leather building at 124 W. Fourth St.

The artists involved had to go through an approval process by submitting a proposal, including a rendering of the mural, by Sept. 3.

Both artists, Amadeus Roy and Sean Graham, had their proposed murals approved through this process by the DDA on Sept. 18. On Sept. 23, they were seeking final approval by the City Commission to begin painting.

The murals are funded completely by the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority.

Roy’s mural, titled “Inflection Point,” will be painted alongside the Cacao Tree Cafe. Roy said at the commission meeting that his work is often surrealist and abstract art. Roy has been a resident of Royal Oak for approximately four years. It has an installation cost of $8,364.50.

“It captures two abstracted mountainscapes with my character The Nomad who I use to capture the storytelling of the human experience. ... It (the figure) is more a depiction of overall humanity,” Roy said. “This is kind of telling the point of the hero’s journey where it’s a leap of faith, where you really bank on your own skills and knowledge and take a step towards whatever change you are pushing.”

Roy said at the meeting that he is trying to portray positivity through his art and catch the viewer’s attention by using vibrant colors like purples and pinks.

“I am excited to do this project,” he said.

Graham will be painting a mural on the side of Noir Leather and said his design is an homage to the history of Royal Oak. He mentioned that he does not live in Royal Oak but has been coming to the downtown area since 1987. It has an installation cost of $21,399.

“It’s my homage to Royal Oak’s past — I have been coming here since 1987 — and then looking forward to the future, I wanted to make it futuristic,” he said at the meeting. “It’s a great honor to even be considered for this, and I’m really excited about it.”

City Commissioner Brandon Kolo said that because the cost and design for these murals was approved, the artists will begin painting as soon as possible, if the weather permits. The goal is to have these completed in time for the holiday season.

There are three more spots in the downtown area awaiting the approval of the City Commission in the next few weeks.

The three other locations are at The Rock on Third, at 112 E. Third St.; Henry Ford Health Care at 110 E. Second St.; and Yogurt City at 122 S. Main St.

“I think this is a great program and I thought these two pieces were stunning. I really loved the color and they just seem very forward thinking to me, so I really like that,” Commissioner Rebecca Cheezum said. “I did have the thought that people riding on the Amtrak from Pontiac to Chicago will go right by these beautiful murals and they will be so striking to the people on the train, so we are making a little bit of a better railway experience there.”