OCALA, FL (352today) – Whatever it takes to build great futures. A fitting motto for an organization that has made a difference in so many young people’s lives.
There had been a mural on the east side of the wall of the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County (BGCofMarion) in Ocala, but it was dated and faded.
For the past several years, the organization has been working diligently to secure funding to have a new mural painted on the wall facing the playground area at Carver Park. Those efforts paid off as the nonprofit was awarded a grant through the Marion Cultural Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The next challenge was finding an artist who would be able paint a mural with an inspiring message that was current and relevant.
“Ocala has such a collection of public art, murals and sculptures. We really celebrate art. But for our community that we serve, there’s not a lot. So, we want to be a part of that,” said April Savarese, BGCofMarion’s chief executive officer. “We want our members to be proud of it, and we want our community to be able to enjoy it.”
The artist finished painting the mural just hours before the unveiling, adding a touch of drama to the presentation.
Artist E.J. Nieves has been in Ocala for nearly five years and has been friends with Savarese almost that entire time. He would often look at the wall, while driving past the facility from the other side of the playground. The two had a conversation regarding the possibility of having a mural painted to make that side of the building more aesthetically pleasing. Things got rolling from there.
“Our hearts came together and what transpired from our conversation was to make something visual for the kids,” said Nieves, who mentors kids and aspiring artists.
Nieves had his share of challenges because of the lack of cooperation from the weather.
“It was very important for me, that the conversation that we started nearly four years ago, if there was an opportunity to go full circle and finish it through, we were going to do it. And, we did. It’s been an awesome journey,” said Nieves.
The unveiling was a celebration with several club members representing Dunnellon and Silver Springs Shores, expressing themselves through artistic performances.
Ninth grader Jeremiah Shackelford performed an elaborate and purposeful dance using what he refers to as his gift from God.
“I really do love it (dance). It’s my passion,” said Shackleford. “Follow what God wants you to do in that moment. If he doesn’t want you to dance, don’t dance. If he wants you to do different things in the ministry, then go for it. Always say ‘yes’ to what God wants for you.”
