Grand Avenue parking structure gets facelift with new mural   

FRIDAY, June 14  — Part of the North Grand Ramp parking structure, on Grand Avenue and Ottawa Street, is getting wrapped in a colorful vinyl design by a local artist. The project ends a nearly three-year collaboration between Downtown Lansing Inc. and the Greater Lansing Arts Council to place art on the building.  

Rick Imshaug, president of Skyline Outdoor Advertising of Okemos, said the mural is scheduled to be finished by the end of next week, weather permitting.  

 Artist Bruce Mackley’s submission, “Let Me In,” won the Arts Council of Greater Lansing competition to be featured. For his work, he also won a cash prize of $3,000.  

 “I wanted to keep it funky, cool and colorful,” Mackley said. “I’ve always been impressed with what is happening in Europe. I like the stained glass look and something organic and flowing.”   

 The work is open to interpretation, he added.  

“When you see this type of thing in a city, it speaks of the city’s dedication and value in the arts.”  

The glass portion is made up of 31 vinyl panels workers must squidgy onto the glass by hand.  

The original request for the project saw Downtown Lansing Inc. putting up $3,000 of its own funds and using $22,000 total in grants, $10,000 from LEAP’s Public Art in Communities grant and $12,000 from the City of Lansing Parking Office.   

The $25,000 was later bumped to $27,000 due to concerns about adequate artist funding.  

“We work with visitors, and for visitors to see something so visible and eye-catching in the heart of our community is important,” Julie Pingston, Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau senior vice president, said. 

“Many visitors use the structure to visit the Lansing Center and this will add vibrancy to show our community is alive and there are a lot of great things happening here.”