The murals are all installed along Front Avenue underneath the US-131 expressway in downtown GR. About 500 feet or so west of the historic Blue Bridge over the Grand River, the underpass contains a series of large archways that the Pleasant Peninsula muralists filled with colorful imagery. Each mural is accompanied by a plaque identifying the species and its status, and a QR code that links to more information.
The result is a dazzling open-air gallery that can be enjoyed year round by pedestrians. Pleasant Peninsula’s hope is that visitors engage with the murals to learn about Michigan’s rich biodiversity and connect more confidently with nature going forward.
Building a Legacy of Eco-Art
The rare species murals are the latest in a series of eco-art experiences from Pleasant Peninsula. The Pleasant Peninsula Festival originated in 2022 as an art and activism fair featuring a variety of local nature preserves, animal conservancies, parks departments, environmental organizations and Michigan artists. The highlight of that first year was the unveiling of a massive mural by Eddie Chaffer, whose “Seeking a Pleasant Peninsula” depicted Michigan’s state fish, the brook trout, as well as a lake sturgeon, a loon, a white pine, plant life and several of the state’s geographical landmarks.
“Our goal was to raise awareness of current conservation efforts going on in Grand Rapids and to demonstrate the compatibility between art and activism,” Chaffer told MSU Today, the official news website of their alma mater, Michigan State University. “By highlighting Michigan’s ecology in the midst of one of our primary urban centers, this mural will be able to engage viewers who may not otherwise get the chance to experience Michigan’s natural wonders.”
“Seeking a Pleasant Peninsula” won a first-place juried award in the installation category at ArtPrize 2022, the annual Grand Rapids-based global art competition. It also inspired Pleasant Peninsula’s organizers to turn the event into an annual affair that’s grown bigger every year.
In 2023, 35+ creators participated in an artist market, with community support from the Grand Rapids Public Museum, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, Grand River Network, Grand Rapids Audobon Club and more. Another large-scale Chaffer mural, “Look About You” was installed on an exterior wall of the Tin Can Bar/City View Flats building in downtown GR.
Pleasant Peninsula 2024 invited 50 different Michigan artists to paint 50 different fish that are all native or naturalized to the Grand River that runs through downtown GR. Five additional murals were created by artist-and-educator teams, and a two-day speaker series hosted poets, artists, musicians and environmental educators sharing what they admire most about Michigan’s ecosystems.
