Mural highlights best of area

SANDUSKY — Two artists teamed up to pack a century's worth of iconic moments in a cohesive, vibrant visual spanning one large wall. Derek Brennan and Darian Shepherd brought local history to life through illustrative depictions of figures, festivals, former businesses, fun activities and more — all synonymous with Sandusky and Perkins Township dating back to the 1900s — along the Register's building facing out toward West Market Street. The piece even incorporated various newspaper headlines and pages from the Register and its predecessor printing ancestors, the Star-Journal and Register Star-News, to help summarize the cultural significance of what's creatively conveyed. While both have painted murals before, this represents the first collaboration between Brennan and Shepherd on a project like this. Both Brennan, a Perkins graduate, and Shepherd, a Sandusky graduate, worked with Mimi Chicotel — CEO of GMA Asset Management Group, which owns the Register building — to create this timeline-inspired artwork piece known as "Steel to Shoreline." Work on the project, which took months to complete, recently ended. Before starting this past spring, it required approval through Sandusky's government. "The Sandusky public arts and culture commission considers murals to be among the highest impact types of public art in the city and encourages finding opportunities to increase the number of murals," city chief planner Arin Blair said. Staff backed this mural, as explained by Blair, "not only because it supports the mission of expanding public art in Sandusky but also because we expect it will improve the aesthetics, economic potential and overall vibrancy of this area of downtown." Making sense of the dollars and cents The project's cost totaled $60,000, broken down with: • $42,000 coming from a grant through Shores & Islands Ohio • $13,000 coming from private funds • $5,000 coming from a city grant Q&A Brennan, Shepherd and Chicotel each spoke about their involvement in this project and its overall significance: Derek Brennan Q: Why did you want to take part in this project? A: This mural was really created for the people of Sandusky and to remind residents where they came from. I wanted it to serve as a visual time capsule, bringing back memories and preserving important pieces of the city's history, having once lived here myself. And with family who have always called Sandusky home, this project felt deeply personal. Q: Why did you want to collaborate on this project? A: Darian and I originally connected artistically, drawing caricatures together at Cedar Point back in 2007, working several seasons together. This mural felt like a perfect opportunity to reconnect creatively. He's been very active in Sandusky's art scene recently, and I knew our artistic styles would complement each other nicely. Q: What are some images on the mural you'd like to point out? Why did you want to illustrate them in this representation? A: Creating a mural that spans over 100 years means there was so much history to cover, but, of course, I couldn't fit everything: • To prepare, I visited places like the Follett House Museum where I discovered Sandusky was home to Ohio's first all-woman jury, which was something important that I knew had to be included. • I also made it a priority to highlight factory workers from historic businesses like, Barr Rubber, American Crayon and New Departure. I have close family and friends who worked at these factories, and their dedication and hard work gave me the opportunity to follow my dreams as an artist. Highlighting the factory workers felt like a way to honor them and everyone whose work shaped this city. • Additionally, there are representations of the Merry-Go-Round Museum; Miss America Jackie Mayer; vintage Cedar Point, like the Berenstain Bears tree house; Sports City; and the Goodtime. Q: What do you hope people get out of seeing this piece? A: I hope the mural helps people feel proud and connected to Sandusky and their own personal histories. Ideally, it sparks conversations and encourages everyone to appreciate the community and heritage that have shaped who we are. Darian Shepherd Q: Why did you want to take part in this project? Why did you want to collaborate on this project? A: I feel like both of these questions kind of blend for me because how I got involved and why we collaborated are really part of the same story. Like Derek said, we were old co-workers and have kept in touch over the years. He's been making serious moves in the mural space, and I, eventually, dipped my toes in, too, asking him for tips and showing him some of my own projects. We were catching up over coffee when he started telling me about Mimi's space and her vision for the mural. I thought it was super dope. I didn't expect it, but he invited me to the meeting to see the space and hear from her directly — and, just like that, I was part of the family. We've always been fans of each other's work, and this just felt like the right project to finally collaborate on. The timing, the story, the people involved, it all lined up. It was cool bouncing ideas off each other and catching up throughout the process. It felt natural, and I'm proud of how everything turned out. Q: What are some images on the mural you'd like to point out? Why did you want to illustrate them in this representation? A: Mimi and Derek really led the way in shaping the visual story. They pulled together some of the most significant moments, places and Sandusky legends across the decades. There's so much nostalgia in it, especially for me with parts like the Berenstain Bears tree and Sports City callout, which instantly took me back to the 1990s and 2000s. I had the honor of painting the Orlando Pace and Strobel Field portion. Athletics play such a huge role in Sandusky's pride and neighborhood rivalries, so bringing that energy into the mural felt important and personal. Q: What do you hope people get out of seeing this piece? A: More than anything, I hope people feel seen. Whether it's a childhood memory sparked by one of the landmarks or pride in the legends and history we've honored, it's a conversation starter, a reflection of where we've been and a reminder of what's possible. Even the debates and discourse that have come out of it have been fun to watch. I mean, not everything's for everybody, but that's the beauty of art, and I feel like it truly adds life and vibrancy to downtown. Mimi Chicotel Q: Why did you want to take part in this project? A: We've seen firsthand how powerful murals can be. Our Airbnb properties near the mural on Washington Street, known as the bird building, are not only constantly booked, but many guests specifically cite the mural as one of the main reasons they chose to stay with us, along with fun features like the arcade machine. These visual landmarks have proven to be more than just decoration: They're essential. We also recognize that the 1960s to 1970s brick structure on the west side of the Register building is architecturally bland and lacks curb appeal. We want The Emporium to stand apart from the historic Sandusky Register and establish its own visual identity. A mural is the perfect way to achieve that, by turning a flat wall into a magnetic focal point. The Emporium is a vibrant hub for local entrepreneurs, artists and farmers. The Emporium emphasizes affordability, community and revitalization through accessible vendor spaces, aiming to open at the end of the month. More importantly, we want to bring traffic, energy and curiosity to the west side of town. Public art is a proven catalyst for foot traffic, storytelling and pride. We see this mural as the next vital step in our broader vision for revitalizing Market Street and elevating the community experience. Q: What was your vision for the mural? A: This mural series is designed to bring joy to residents, attract new visitors and serve as an identifying landmark in the neighborhood. It reflects a century of progress, preservation and pride in Sandusky and Ohio, illustrating the evolution of industry, culture and community resilience. Through a blend of historical imagery, local landmarks and vibrant contemporary scenes, the mural bridges generations, honoring where we've been while inspiring where we're going. It's more than just a painting: It's a shared visual history, told through color, form and spirit. Q: Why is public art important? A: Many progressive cities — like Cleveland, Toledo and Columbus — are embracing murals as more than just decoration. They're recognizing the power of public art to: • Revitalize neighborhoods, turning blank walls into storytelling canvases • Create shared identity and pride, uniting residents and visitors through a sense of place • Boost local tourism and small business activity by generating foot traffic and interest This project is personal. It's an opportunity to pay tribute and give back to the city that welcomed me and raised my husband, Alan, to invest in beauty, culture and identity. These murals will stand as a visual legacy — a symbol of resilience, optimism and belonging for everyone who passes by. And for the record: There's an outdated and misguided idea that murals are somehow "ghetto." That's simply false. No one calls a $60,000 investment in beauty and community "ghetto." Public art is not a luxury: It's a bold statement about what a community values. And we value progress, people and pride. Q: What do you hope people get out of seeing this piece? A: We want people to feel curious, inspired and proud. We hope it sparks conversations between generations, introduces visitors to Sandusky's deep history and gives locals something to smile about every day. Public art in cities, like Cleveland and Toledo, has shown us how murals can become identity markers, symbols of transformation, creativity and resilience. That's what we want for the West Market district, too. We hope people walk away not just thinking, "That's beautiful," but feeling connected to the city, to its history and to each other. What makes this mural especially meaningful is that it's being created by two local artists: one a graduate of Perkins High School, the other of Sandusky High School. This collaboration is more than just a creative project: It's a symbol of unity. Regardless of funding sources or school affiliations, Sandusky and Perkins are part of one shared community, and we believe that our future depends on working together. That's why the mural includes a thoughtful tribute to both schools, blending Blue Streak and Pirate pride along the edges as a nod to our roots — and a reminder that we're stronger together. This mural is not about sides: It's about connection. It celebrates a united front where hometown pride transcends boundaries and every resident has a place in our shared story. Want to go? The Emporium, located inside the Register building, 314 W. Market St., will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome in new businesses and award winners from its newspaper bin contest. There will be many family-friendly activities — a DJ, live band, cartoonist, face-painting, balloon artists — and more in a carnival-like setting. People are welcome to attend the event, going from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 1. The Emporium "is a low‑cost, vibrant marketplace in the Sandusky Register building with pop‑up shops, artist tables, a farmers market, a grab‑n‑go store, an ATM and vending machines — a downtown hub for creativity, commerce, and community," according to a company statement. More information is available at facebook.com/emporiumwestmarket.