Plain City Police Officer Josh Hirtzinger and K9 Andor, pictured in the top photo, pose next to a chalk art mural created by local artist Hilary Frambes. Since the Stay at Home order began, Frambes has been creating murals on her driveway to honor heroes serving others during the pandemic. Frambes plans to paint a mural of the bottom left graphic in Uptown Plain City that the Jonathan Alder Class of 2020 may sign and use as a backdrop for graduation photos. She said her weekly chalk murals, like that of Gov. Mike DeWine she is pictured with at bottom right, give the community a way to connect, even from a distance. (Photos and graphic submitted)
From local law enforcement to students and teachers, Plain City artist Hilary Frambes is using her talent to honor COVID-19 heroes.
Each week for the past six weeks, Frambes has created a chalk mural on her driveway to recognize “everybody who’s stepped up during this.”
“Art is a way to convey a message,” she said. “You can say a lot with an image.”
Frambes said the series of murals began when a spring break trip to Florida for her daughter, who is a junior at Jonathan Alder High School, was canceled due to the Stay at Home order.
Unable to visit family or tour colleges, Frambes said, “I got bored,” and used black tempera paint to create a canvas on her driveway for chalk murals.
She shared a photo of her first “COVID-themed” mural – a painting of Dr. Amy Acton wearing a superhero cape – on Facebook and “it went viral.”
Following the positive response, Frambes said created images of Gov. Mike DeWine, Brutus Buckeye as a doctor, her fellow art teacher, Mrs. Janel Luker and Plain City Police Officer Josh Hirtzinger and K-9 Andor.
“It’s been a way to keep my sanity, but also it feels good to have people uplifted,” Frambes said.
While she said she hopes her work makes people smile and brings a little joy, Frambes said she also feels the sadness shared by many during the pandemic.
She said she is moved by all that her daughter is missing during her junior year of high school. Thinking about her own daughter led her to consider “all those lasts” seniors are missing.
Frambes said she wondered, “What can we do as a town?” to honor Jonathan Alder seniors. She asked Plain City Mayor Darrin Lane and council members if she could paint a mural Uptown that would recognize the Class of 2020.
Council approved her idea and local business owner Tim Dawson agreed to allow her to install the mural on the side of his Main Street building, on a white wall that faces Lovejoy Plaza.
Frambes said the community also supported her efforts, as Holmes Lumber donated the panels to create her mural on and Lane is donating the paint.
Once complete, Frambes said the mural will be approximately eight feet by 12 feet and display the Jonathan Alder “A” logo inside a heart that includes “2020” across the top.
She said students will be invited to bring their own permanent marker, sign the mural and use it as a backdrop for graduation photos.
Before the mural is installed, Frambes said the high school will use it during filming of their virtual commencement ceremony.
Then, she said it will be displayed Uptown, likely through the summer. She said she hopes it will eventually be kept at the high school.
“It’s a bright spot in all this disappointment,” she said.
Although students and families will need to practice social distancing while observing her art, Frambes said it still provides a much needed way to connect.
Online, she said her murals have become a point of conversation. The interest translates in-person, as Frambes said neighbors often walk by and chat about her latest piece while some folks will even drive from out of town to see it.
“I’ve had people say, ‘Oh, I’m always waiting to see what you make next week,’” she said.
In the midst of COVID-19, Frambes said chalk art carries an especially important meaning.
Since she’s been working with the medium for nearly 15 years, Frambes said it doesn’t make her sad to see her art wash away.
When people tell her they’re sad to see it go, she points out the symbolism she sees.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Frambes said. “Chalk art is just like the situation we’re in.”