September 2, 2022

Columbus State University recently announced that innovative multimedia artist Thomas “Detour” Evans has been selected to collaborate with CSU art students and the community in the creation of a “Hope, Healing and Unity” Mural that will be installed on the retaining wall at the corner of Talbotton Road and 5th Avenue. This city-university art partnership aims to create a mural supporting community healing while amplifying the voices of the marginalized and their allies.

Detour is an all-around creative specializing in large scale public art, interactive visuals, portraiture, immersive spaces, and creative directing, with striking experimentations in visual art, music, and interactive technologies. His focus is to create pieces where art and innovation meet. A born collaborator and “military brat,” Detour pulls from every conceivable experience to shape his landscapes and perspectives.

“My goal is to create art based off of what inspires me around this community,” said Detour. “For me, collaborating with the Columbus State University art department has been really good because they've been super professional. They really wanted me to come down here just to see everyone, inviting me to meet people from the Ronald McDonald House and from the local shelters and support groups. Being able to meet a lot of people in the community that I would never have access to if I were doing this alone has been really great in terms of trying to make sure that they bring out the inspiration and a design from me that can really fit within the community.”

On his recent visit to Columbus, Detour also met with community leaders, neighborhood residents, and partnership stakeholders to have open conversations regarding the design of the mural. Those partners include Columbus State University, Columbus Consolidated Government, the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Columbus Dragonfly Trail System and Minor in Business Kidperneur. The funding for the project comes from The Knight Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley, Inc., Columbus 2025, and the Mildred Miller Fort Foundation.

Hannah Israel, CSU’s gallery director and a professor of art, knows how important it is to build strong bonds between the artist and the community as this project begins. “The mural aims to build community pride, inspire hope and healing, and enhance the beauty of the Rose Hill neighborhood,” said Israel. “Muralist Thomas ‘Detour’ Evans will learn from neighborhood residents and community leaders to utilize those conversations to shape the design of his signature, large scale portrait mural.

The proposal for the design will be unveiled later this month to the Artist Selection Committee and then must be approved by CSU, Piedmont Columbus Regional, a representative of the Ronald McDonald House and the Columbus Consolidated Government City Council. Installation is expected to begin in November of this year and be completed over a two-week period. CSU students, staff and community volunteers will help by offering creative input and assisting with painting the mural.

Upon completion, a “Celebration of Hope, Healing and Community” public unveiling will take place, to include a formal dedication of the art mural, recognition of the artist and recognition of partners, sponsors, collaborators and supporters.

To hear more about the artist, click here to watch CSU’s interview with Detour, and here to visit his website. 

For more information on the mural project, please contact Hannah Israel at israel_hannah@columbusstate.edu or 706-507-8312.