Art inspires, art encourages and empowers!
Worthington yards, Summer celebration, 2021, 16 x 20, Tempera paint sticks and fine tip marker,
Community handprint mural for Learning Garden at Coit Road Farmers Market, 2021, 4 ft x 8 ft, acrylic paint on MDF board
The Jazz Temple, 2020, 48 x 60 Acrylic on canvas
What if? 2021, 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas
Jazz n the 50's, 2018, Acrylic on canvas, 36 by 48
Cool Jazz sax, 2021, 24 x 30, Acrylic on canvas
Tranquil Ocean breezes, 2021, 16 x 20, Acrylic on canvas
Tranquil Summer breezes, 2021, 16 x 20, Acrylic on canvas
The Muse, 2021, 8 x 10, oil paint on canvas
Clevelander's on the move, 2021, 18 X 24, Acrylic on canvas
Sara's piano lesson, 2016, 16 x 20, acrylic paint and paper on canvas mixed media
The Jazz Club, 2019,18 X 24, acrylic on canvas
The Gentleman, 2021,16 by 20, oil paint on canvas
The Ladies,,2021, 16 x 20, oil paint on canvas
Community is a family, Rebuilding East Cleveland together, 2021, 8 ft by 8 ft, digitized art on aluminum public art
U and I of Euclid Avenue a Gateway to East Cleveland, 2021, 10 ft by 20 ft digitized art design on framed Banner public art
Cajun Jazz The Big Easy, 2020, 24 x 40
About the artist, Mary Kay
Mary Kay Thomas is a self-employed artist, art teacher and art therapist born and raised in Cleveland. She has decades of experience inspiring youth through arts.
Mary resides in East Cleveland, where she is working to beautify the community through a mural project called the U and I of Euclid Avenue, a Gateway to East Cleveland 2021. Supporters for the U and I include Spaces, Fowlers Foundation, IOBY and the community.
Mary's passion for using art to empower communities introduced her to Food Strong. Mary originally got involved with Food Strong in 2019 when she guided youth in Food Strong's school garden mural project which was founded by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.
The mural she created with students now hangs at East Cleveland's Coit Road Farmers Market.
Mary also helped lead the creation of a mural for Food Strong's learning garden which was founded through a serve Ohio MLK Day Grant.
Mary is now assisting in leading activities for food strong 2022 art projects aimed at beautifying the Coit Road Farmers Market and learning garden. She will be guiding the community youth and residents through designing and creating original murals and art installations aimed at promoting fresh food, healthy eating and hometown pride.
In 2022 she is continuing the work in East Cleveland.
The initiative is a place keep and placemaking art initiative for the city of East Cleveland. Our mission is providing an impact for the city of East Cleveland and the surrounding community’s such as Glenville, Cleveland Heights, University Heights, Beachwood, Moreland Hills and the westside of Cleveland such as Bay Arts, and Avon Arts to come to East Cleveland for the arts.
Write as an artist I had idea; I saw Euclid Ave Cleveland Ohio as a blank canvas. I went to the mayor Brandon King and told him I have and could create 2 miles of art and storytelling. Impact student walking to school that is inspiring. The city is falling apart in East Cleveland. Student are walking to school feeling uninspired. I came up with "You" and "I" as a partnership we cannot do it with us teach other. The first year I was able to put together $12K with grant writer. I was able to produce 2 murals. There was no building. I purchase 20-foot container and had the art work produce by "West Camp" banner style with frame. The slogan was "gateway to east Cleveland." The other says "Welcome" made up of Aluminum. The works of art had all skin colors engaging and welcoming the community to East Cleveland to engage. I am on the board of directors for East Cleveland Coit framers market 2nd oldest air market in the country. Working with Coit farmers market and food strong nonprofit educating the community about access to fresh food and health eating. Including prepare and food demo and tasting and a host of community-based projects.
After the murals were completed and installed. West Camp was the partner for the printing and the installation for both murals. I was project manager and creator through the process assisting the students’ artists as well as the partnerships. Spectrum News Television interviewed Joe from the Coit Road Farmer Market and myself. I wanted Coit Road Farmers Market because it’s vital and important to have access to fresh food and local farmers. another publication was fresh water Cleveland.
After being awarded NEA grant and Cleveland Foundation I knew that the work I am doing is to help heal this community with art and local non-profit partnerships. The work that we are doing is very impactful will help change the face of this community. Hope it will thrive the way any other more influent can thrive. One of my works of art is called “The Right to Thrive.”
Contact Mary Kay
marykay@rhythmicartistry.com
(216) 322-2047
