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The original mural of Mpozi was unexpectedly painted over last year.
Photo courtesy of BRIDGE CollectiveA pair of new murals is planned for Broad Ripple Village and one of the artworks will reimagine a lost mural of a local artist.
The mural of DJ and photojournalist Mpozi Mshale Tolbert, who died in 2006, graced the side of a nightclub in Broad Ripple for 15 years before it was unexpectedly painted over last year. Now local organizations aim to have a new one installed.
The BRIDGE Collective and the Broad Ripple Village Association have partnered and applied for matching funds from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority to create the artwork.
BRVA Executive Director Jordan Dillon said as one of the original cultural districts in Indianapolis, the village has a history of vibrant public art.
“Murals are such an important part of that as well, and having those murals there that speak to all types of people," Dillon said.
If funded, the art work will be painted on panels that could be removed if needed. Plans are to install it on the building across the street from where the original mural was.
A crowdfunding campaign seeks $12,500 for the Mpozi piece and an adjoining mural of Ron Miner, aka DJ Indiana Jones who died in 2020. The state’s CreatINg Places program would match those funds.
Contact WFYI City Desk Managing Editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.
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