“Dreaming Blues”

Wednesday
After our swim around lunchtime, we went off in search of another Cincinnati mural - this time in an area known as Pendleton, adjacent to Over-the-Rhine. This one is called Dreaming Blues, and commemorates Mamie Smith—a legend, and Cincinnati native. In 1920, she entered Blues history as the first African American artist to make vocal blues recordings. In celebration of her remarkable contributions to the American sound of rhythm and blues and her significant place in Cincinnati’s musical history, ArtWorks commissioned Buffalo, New York-based artist Julia Bottoms to create this piece that “sings out” Mamie’s story and legacy. This mural is part of ArtWorks’ Cincinnati Legends Series, a collection of large-scale public murals, primarily spread across Over-the-Rhine, honoring a diverse group of local personalities who have made names for themselves in the city of Cincinnati and beyond. Unfortunately it was difficult to get a good overall shot of it, as there is a tree masking part of it from one angle, and an unattractive fence in front of it! There was another great mural just a few blocks away, so one day soon I will be going back to Blip that one! I think I’ve blipped about 7 Cincinnati murals so far - just another 110 or so to go, though not all of them full wall size!!