If you want a remarkable splash of color to make your day, head for the St. Joseph bluff stairs connecting Lake Bluff Park with the amenities below the bluff on the way to Silver Beach thanks to a commission from St. Joseph Today. 
St. Joe Today is announcing the installation of another temporary mural on the bluff stairs is now complete and ready for viewing, thanks to the support of Edward J. Todd, the Berrien Community Foundation’s For Good Grant, and the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council.
St. Joe Today started the mural project in 2018 with a permanent mural on the back of the Welcome Center building at 301 State Street, in downtown St. Joe. They then continued the project by adding a temporary mural to the bluff stairs in 2019. Both commissioned pieces were painted by Houston, Texas based artist Anat Ronen.
Amy Zapal, Executive Director of St. Joe Today, tells us, “The bluff stairs mural was well received and we immediately started planning for the next one.” She says they were lucky to work with Ronen again this year on the stair mural, adding, “Our hope is to expand the footprint of downtown St. Joe and the bluff stairs make the perfect canvas to achieve this goal. It’s a beautiful extension and an exciting addition to downtown.”
Zapal says that the bluff stairs mural, while temporary, has sparked a lot of interest for future permanent murals, noting, “A handful of private property owners have expressed interest and support for the ongoing mural project. We plan to continue these projects through a variety of partnerships and help from local and regional artists.”
Edward J. Todd is devoted to supporting the education of local youth as well as supporting the growth of local businesses through community events. St. Joe Today and the whole community benefit from his generous support for the fine arts.
For almost 70 years the Berrien Community Foundation has provided leadership, grants and scholarships support in Berrien County, and is a center of philanthropy in the county helping people to achieve their charitable goals and support good work in the community through current giving and planned gifts. The For Good Grant is one of many grant opportunities available through the Berrien Community Foundation.
The Southwest Michigan Tourist Council connects visitors and locals alike with things to do in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. You can view their curated itineraries, Makers Trail destinations, blogs, trail guides, newsletters and more online at http://swmichigan.org.
St. Joseph Today is a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization dedicated to developing and promoting events and businesses in St. Joseph and its surrounding communities. For more information about upcoming events and details you can call St. Joseph Today at (269) 985 1111 or visit online at http://stjoetoday.com.
