Iron Mountain: Believe in the Power of Words

By: Liz Foley

If words have the power to change the world—and a picture is worth a thousand words—then an art project launched in Iron Mountain just might transform the entire Upper Peninsula, one mural at a time.

“In recent years, there has been substantial investment in the revitalization of our downtown,” said Iron Mountain City Manager Jordan Stanchina. “A part of that revitalization is The Power of Words Project, which engaged the community to assist in developing the vision for the murals.”

“When you take the time and effort to support a project like POWP, you are doing so much more than just painting the sides of buildings.”

Mindy Wittock, Iron Mountain DDA, Program Director

It all started back in 2013, when the city’s Downtown Development Authority reached out to California-based mural artist Mia Tavonatti, who grew up in Iron Mountain. In 2010 and 2011, Tavonatti’s massive glass mosaics had garnered consecutive 2nd and 1st Place honors at Artprize in Grand Rapids. Following those wins, Tavonatti launched The Power of Words Project, a national humanitarian mural campaign, to use the shared experience of public art as a transformative tool to uplift communities, create a sense of place, and enhance economic development.

Would this award-winning, internationally known artist be interested in bringing her mural project to her hometown in the remote far western end of the Upper Peninsula?

Turns out the answer was yes.

Project Funding

Most of the funds for the initial mural came from the Svelata Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that Tavonatti had established with half her ArtPrize award money. About a third came from local in-kind donations for things like food and housing for the work crew and discounts on materials and supplies. “I knew it was important to get this project launched in Michigan and that, once we had at least one successful example there, it would be easier to fundraise in the future,” said Tavonatti.

Residents Become Part of the Process

Because community engagement is the essence of the project, she started by asking residents: “If you could choose one word that defines your vision for the future of your community, what would it be?” The answers were collected online and through paper ballot, then narrowed down to 10 words for a final public vote.

The Winning Word: Believe.

Tavonatti then created the design and recruited local students and artists to work with her professional art team to prep and paint the mural on an exterior wall of Blackstone Pizza Company in the heart of downtown. The local participants also earned scholarships and grants from the Svelata Foundation—further enhancing the project’s potential to empower and change lives. “It provides a level of authenticity to the community vision goal that the Power of Words project sets out to inspire,” said Stanchina.

Public response was overwhelmingly positive. “The murals have brought so much joy and visual excitement to Iron Mountain. These powerful words that were chosen by the residents are brought to the forefront and act as a mantra for our community,” said Iron Mountain DDA Program Director Mindy Wittock. “I feel like the murals also create a cohesive aesthetic for our town and they really support our community's values.”

“The murals have brought so much joy and visual excitement to Iron Mountain… [they] act as a mantra for our community.”

Mindy Wittock, Iron Mountain DDA, Program Director

In 2017, Tavonatti returned to paint a second mural on the Daily News wall, also funded by the Svelata Foundation combined with in-kind contributions and a $4,000 grant from the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development (CUPPAD) Regional Commission. Tavonatti was also able to parlay private donations into a $10,000 matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). “In Michigan, the Patronicity crowd-sourcing platform, with its potential matching funds from MEDC, are exceptional tools for fundraising,” said Tavonatti.

Community features 89 stunningly realistic portraits of residents chosen by their fellow community members. In 2018, Tavonatti’s team completed three more “mural mantras” for Iron Mountain: Welcome, Inspire, and Hope.

“I love walking downtown and seeing people take photos in front of the artwork. Our murals are really an expression of our community and the values we hold dear,” said Wittock. “The Power of Words Project gives our downtown an identity and enhances the experience of our residents and visitors as they take advantage of all our downtown has to offer.”

Like a fast-moving wildfire of inspiration, the mural project is now spreading to other Upper Peninsula cities. Tavonatti has dubbed this expanded version “The Power of Words Project UPlift.” With Tavonatti’s help, three of the six central U.P. counties were allocated about $150,000 from ArtPlace, a national creative placemaking fund. Combined with other ongoing funding sources, the project has now completed three murals in Manistique (Discover, Imagine, and Harmony); one in Gladstone (Play); and one in Marquette (Natural).

The project still has enough funds remaining to do one more medium-size mural in Iron Mountain, she said, and continues to maintain all the existing murals.

Spreading the Power of Words

And far from being finished, it looks like the Power has just begun. “I have been approached by no less than five other communities in the U.P. and Wisconsin to bring the POWP to their towns,” said Tavonatti. “I meet with them and walk their towns or talk to them on the phone to coach them and prepare them for the introduction of public art into their historic downtowns.

“We are very careful in our timing because a town really needs to be at a certain point in their own revitalization efforts before a mural or any other public art can be appreciated and have the desired impact.”

Tavonatti hopes the murals will become a cultural destination that helps drive tourism across the U.P. She also hopes POWP’s success will inspire other artists to launch similar efforts in their own communities. “I would say that the best way to fundraise is to get an example of your work done however you can manage, even if it is to basically work for free and get local donors to give materials, food, scaffolding, housing,” she said. “Once you have successful examples, you can use these to apply for grants. These grants can then be used as matching funds for other grants. This has been key to my success in manifesting ten murals in the U.P. We do great work that engages the community in every way I can think of, and the resulting support helps us to grow faster and faster.”

Wittock said she hopes other communities will learn from their example and embrace public art and its power to promote economic growth and vitality. “I would tell other cities and villages that public art adds so much value to your community,” said Wittock. “When you take the time and effort to support a project like POWP, you are doing so much more than just painting the sides of buildings.”

Liz Foley is a freelance writer. You may contact her at 810.287.8549 or [email protected].

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