Metro Arts Awards Looby Community Center Public Art Project to Creative Girls Rock ®

The Metro Nashville Arts Commission is proud to announce the award to design and install a mural at the Looby Community Center to Creative Girls Rock ®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Nashville young girls and women with opportunities to explore creative arts, youth development, and community engagement.

This Public Art project is an initiative developed through the Mayor’s Participatory Budgeting program for community development in North Nashville, under former Mayor John Cooper. The community requested a mural inspired by Z. Alexander Looby’s life and accomplishments, his pursuit of justice, and his enduring national legacy. The mural will be installed on the 28’x 96’ western wall of the building, located in the District 2 Buena Vista Heights neighborhood.

Former Nashville mayor, Ben West, and Z. Alexander Looby. 1955. (Nashville Public Library)

"Making the Looby Center into a state-of-the-art community center that houses a multitude of activities and resources and adds to the beautiful landscape of the neighborhood is a top priority. I'm excited that the mural will not only add beauty, it will also celebrate the rich history of North Nashville and Z. Alexander Looby," said District 2 Councilmember Kyonzté Toombs.

The Looby Community Center, so named for Nashville civil rights activist and attorney Z. Alexander Looby, houses the Looby Branch Library, the Z. Alexander Looby Theater, and several recreational spaces. The library hosts programs to engage community members of all ages, including story time, tech help programs, and yoga. The Community Center has a weight room, gymnasium, and a full schedule of pickleball, basketball, swimming, and after-school programming for students. The Z. Alexander Looby Theater hosts productions by The Metro Parks Theater and Music Departments, as well as several local professional and community theater companies.

Creative Girls Rock mural funded by Metro Arts Thrive Award, North Nashville. Lead muralist, Elishiba Mrozik.

The mission of Creative Girls Rock® is to educate and empower young girls and women to utilize their creative talents to enhance their lives and the world around them. Their CGR Mural Program, spearheaded by Lead Mural Artist Elisheba Mrozik, teaches participants essential design principles and techniques for crafting uplifting mural paintings. Their work can be found across Nashville including at John Early Middle School, Slim and Husky’s, and The Healing Trust Foundation. Additionally, mobile murals have been displayed at Tennessee State University, Napier Elementary School, and multiple branches of the Nashville Public Library.

“Creative Girls Rock®️ is excited to embark on a new mural project aimed to honor the life and legacy of Z. Alexander Looby in collaboration with lead mural artist, Elisheba Mrozik, founder of Queen Bee Ink and North Nashville Arts Coalition,” said Charmin Bates, Founder and CEO of Creative Girls Rock ®.

“By enhancing the cultural vibrancy of our community, this mural project will foster creativity and celebrate our shared heritage. We hope to engage with Greater Nashville by hosting events and inviting inspiring artists, volunteers, and community members to join us in this collaborative endeavor.”

Community members are invited to an engagement event with Creative Girls Rock® at Looby Community Center on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 to offer input on the design of the mural.

This project is funded in part by the Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County Participatory Budgeting Program for 2022 for Bordeaux and North Nashville. Additional funds are provided by Metro Nashville’s Percent for Public Art Fund, established in 2000 under Mayor Bill Purcell. This fund allocates one percent of funding for designated projects in the Metro Capital Improvements Budget toward the commissioning of public art. When completed, the mural will be added to the Metro Public Art Collection.