Muralists finish painting the Glass City River Wall

TOLEDO, Ohio — The final strokes of paint were applied to the Glass City River Wall on Friday.

“We're done! Yay! This is the last day! We are crossing the finish line," said Christina Kasper, the Glass City River Wall project manager.

It’s a surreal moment for Kasper and there were barely words to describe the excitement when looking at the final touches being added to the wall. The project took over three years to complete in all and has been a labor of love.

“Took longer than we anticipated. No one’s ever done this before so there was no template. We worked daily, to get to this space. It’s just glorious for the City of Toledo.”

The art displayed on the Glass City River Wall was designed by Gabe Gault and painted by local artists in Toledo. The mural, which is the largest in the nation, features 15 sunflowers as a sign of hope, with three Native American portraits to honor the first farmers in this region.

“They were the first people in this space. So this is a nod to that. And it’s also, there is a portrait of an elder, a mother, and a child. It’s a really magical moment that I think everybody can see a bit of themselves in," Kasper said.

When looking at the mural, the story of Toledo is showcased through the sunflowers and the three generations, which highlight Toledo’s past, present and future. Kasper hopes that as Toledoans take a moment to look at the mural, they see themselves represented.

“Everybody has their own story and they have to tell that story and that’s how the world changes, is when people share their stories it gives the platform for other people to share their stories. I hope every single person sees a little bit of themselves in this.”

But to Kasper, this mural links the stories of everyone in Toledo together, creating one larger story, in the place we call home.

“In the end, the story of Toledo is that we all belong to each other and that we create this beautiful tapestry together.”