People finding a new home. A diverse community banding together. A sunburst.
These are just a few of the elements Dr. Hubert Massey notes when describing the design for the mural that will soon adorn the sound barrier outside of the Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack plant.
The Detroit artist met with members of the community in June to learn what was important to them in how their city and neighborhoods would be represented in the mural. He was motivated by their stories and passion.
“It’s very important to hear from the community and get their input,” Dr. Massey said. “It’s about being able to give people a voice, being able to sit down and listen to people.”
On Aug. 18, Dr. Massey revealed his design to members of the public.
The strength and diversity of the community are some of the many themes highlighted throughout the mural, which will weave together a timeline of history and culture.
“I took a lot of things into consideration,” Dr. Massey said. “I tried to generalize the thoughts and the ideas about the community. I think we’ll be able to get everything that a lot of the people were interested in seeing.”
With the surface primed, Dr. Massey’s drawings will be transferred onto the southern section of the sound barrier, then painting is expected to begin after Labor Day. The northern section is expected to be completed next year.The mural project is part of the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) reached between Stellantis, the City of Detroit and the Neighborhood Advisory Committee, a partnership that provides more than $35 million in support for neighborhood improvements, housing, workforce development, education and training programs, and environmental initiatives. In 2019, the company committed to investing $2.5 billion to build the first new assembly plant in Detroit in 30 years and to upgrade its existing Jefferson plant, creating nearly 5,000 new jobs and putting Detroiters first in the application process.
