Made you look! There’s something new to catch your eye at the longtime neighborhood shopping hub.
story and photographs by Sharon Smith
The newest phase of the Cotswold Village refresh didn’t require a ton of hammers and drills. It just needed lots of paint, creativity and an investment in local talent.
Since spring, artist teams have been busy bringing their mural sketches to life throughout the property.
Pam Imhof
Junior Gomez
The grey brick wall outside ToyMania now pops with Natalie Daratony’s mural of techno-colored poppies. Inez King, of Butler’s Pantry, enjoys the view daily from the shop’s big glass window. “Who wouldn’t love to stand here and look out and see the color, the poppies. It’s a little ray of sunshine,” King says.
She’s also fond of the hornet mural by Junior Gomez around the corner. King says each one adds personality to the shopping center, where the store has been a tenant for four years.
There’s the whimsical mid-mod owl mural by Scott Partridge outside World Market. Pam Imhof’s mixed-media seascape by VisionWorks combines intricate crochet work and painting. Matt Moore’s vivid wave streaming from behind a little girl is pure joy.
Scott Partridge
Natalie Daratony
Asana Partners, which bought the open-air mall two years ago, promised major upgrades. There’s fresh paint on the facade and new outdoor seating, and construction is underway in the area to be anchored by a new Sycamore Brewery.
But the decision to partner with Jenny Vallimont, whose consulting firm Gökotta connects local artists with installation projects, gives this longtime neighborhood center something it was missing — a little extra oomph. SP
Featured image: Mural by artist Matt Moore
