Main Street Marysville to Bring Union County’s Story to Life Through New Uptown Mural

Main Street Marysville is preparing to transform two prominent façades of a Union County administrative building into a vibrant new piece of public art celebrating the history, growth and future of Union County.

The mural will cover approximately 4,550 square feet of the building at 128 S. Main Street, spanning the façades facing Sixth Street and Partners Park as well as the Plum Street parking lot. Located at a natural entrance into the Uptown district, the finished artwork will create a colorful new gateway welcoming residents and visitors to the heart of Marysville.

Main Street Marysville selected artist Jenna Greenwalt of Forged Ingrain, a Perry, Ohio-based creative studio owned by Greenwalt and her husband, Rich. Together, the Forged Ingrain team brings more than 40 years of combined artistic experience. Greenwalt is an award-winning designer and art director whose work includes experience with leading national brands, as well as complex site logistics and start-to-finish project planning.

For the Marysville mural, Greenwalt drew inspiration from one of the area's most familiar natural features: Mill Creek.

“Our design was inspired by the way Mill Creek winds through Marysville,” Greenwalt said. “We are using a flowing river as a visual timeline throughout the artwork, weaving different historical moments together into a bright, energetic story.”

The mural will honor the region's earliest history and monumental moments from its past while tracing the progress and industry that helped shape Union County. Agricultural imagery will reflect the area's heritage and themes of growth and change, while modern industry, families and community will help carry the story into the present and future.

“This isn't intended to be a history lesson painted on the side of a building. We wanted something that tells our story while also feeling alive, colorful and representative of the community Marysville is today,” said Lesley Verbus, Main Street Marysville Board Secretary. “There are generations of history here, but there is also tremendous energy around where our community is going. Jenna found a way to bring those two ideas together in one piece.”

The project was made possible in part through an initial $15,000 America 250 grant from Union County Tourism, supporting efforts to recognize and celebrate the history and future of local communities.

The mural has also become a collaborative effort among Main Street Marysville and its community and government partners. City of Marysville staff members serve on Main Street Marysville's Design Committee and have contributed significant time to planning and project logistics. The City is also anticipated to support the installation through additional project resources and the use of equipment.

Ashley Gaver, Main Street Marysville Board Member and Planning and Development Manager for the City of Marysville, has helped coordinate the project across the organizations involved.

“One of the things I love about this project is that so many organizations are finding ways to contribute what they can to make something special happen for our community,” Gaver said. “The City has been able to bring staff time, planning expertise and resources to the table while Main Street Marysville has kept the vision moving forward. It is a great example of what can happen when our local organizations work together toward a common goal.”

Main Street Marysville also thanks County Administrator - Bill Narducci, and the Union County Commissioners for their input throughout the process and for permitting the use of the County-owned building for the mural.

Local Sherwin-Williams representatives are also supporting the project as a community partner by assisting Main Street Marysville in acquiring the paint and materials necessary to bring Greenwalt's design from concept to wall.

Community involvement will continue beyond the installation itself. Greenwalt plans to incorporate educational outreach into the project, giving children and families another way to engage with the artwork and the history represented within it.

Painting is expected to begin shortly and continue through the remainder of the season. Visitors to FestiFair on September 12 may even have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the mural taking shape while enjoying the festivities in Uptown Marysville.

Once complete, the mural will provide a permanent piece of public art at one of Uptown Marysville's most visible gateways - celebrating where Union County has been, the people and industries that have shaped it, and the community it continues to become.

About Main Street Marysville

Main Street Marysville is dedicated to strengthening and enhancing Uptown Marysville through economic vitality, design, promotion and community engagement. Through partnerships with local businesses, organizations, government agencies, and residents, Main Street Marysville works to preserve the character of the historic Uptown while supporting its continued growth as a vibrant destination for the community.

About Forged Ingrain

Forged Ingrain is a Perry, Ohio-based creative studio led by Jenna and Rich Greenwalt. With more than 40 years of combined artistic experience, the team brings expertise in art, design, creative direction, large-scale installations and project execution.