“The First Water is the Body” by Dustin Hunt and students // Summer 2023

507 East Shiawassee // Lansing, MI 48912

Approximately 85’ W X 12’ H // latex and spray paint

To round out Summer 2023, Muralmatics facilitated a two-week mural camp with Lansing area middle school students. Building Child and Family Initiative and Kids Turning Corners partnered with Muralmatics to bring a new mural to Lansing's Stadium District. During Muralmatics mural camp, students showed up bright and early, ready to help, prepared to support, eager to learn, and ready to paint. Students swept up debris, scraped peeling paint, primed and buffed the wall, practiced their can control, transferred the design to the wall, and painted parts of the wall using spray paint. Dustin Hunt, teaching artist and Muralmatics founder, designed and facilitated a mural inspired by a poem entitled, ‘The First Water is the Body’ by poet Natalie Diaz, and two small businesses that will soon inhabit the building where the mural will live, A Tiny Bit of Wood and Sparrow Bloom. Hunt wanted to highlight the hands of makers, woodworkers and gardeners, while incorporating their tools set amongst wildflowers atop a background suggesting water. Stop by 507 East Shiawassee Street in Lansing’s Stadium District to check out the mural.

Special thanks to the youth organizations who provided youth, funding, and meals to this project, the parents and families who supported students throughout the project, Muralmatics teaching assistant Ryan Holmes for the infectious positive vibes and helping hands, LANARTBUS for the incredible photos, Gillespie Group for the wall space, and all the folks who shared positive encouragement along the way.