Mural SCREAMS FOOD

For Immediate Release:

April 9, 2010

Julie L. Rhodes, 317.631.2220

c: 317.371.2788

Volunteers Create Delectable Work of Art at Pogue’s Run Grocer

Mural screams “FOOD” along east 10^th Street

INDIANAPOLIS – As cars drive briskly along the East 10^th Street corridor, generally the only thing drivers see is pavement and buildings. But, this Saturday, April 10, all that will change, as dozens of volunteers will descend upon the future home of Pogue’s Run Grocer to begin a transformation.

“Indy’s only community-owned grocer will create a mural entirely by volunteers to make a noticeable difference at the store location near the 10^th and Rural streets intersection,” said Greg Monzel, Pogue’s Run Grocer’s General Manager.

The east wall of the building located at 2828 E. 10^th Street will scream ‘FOOD’ as people drive by a facility that has in recent years been a third generation electronics retailer and a daycare, but never before a grocer.

In fact, the 40,000 residents living on Indianapolis’ near eastside have few options for healthy, fresh food in the community since two major grocery chains moved out of the neighborhood in the past several years. Many, especially those without vehicles and seniors, are forced to shop for their daily food needs at nearby convenience stores, offering only low-nutrition, high-cost options.

The mural was developed by local graphic designer, Todd Decker, whose conceptual design was selected by Indy Food Cooperative, Inc., the non-profit organization opening Pogue’s Run Grocer later this spring.

“I designed the mural to grab attention of people driving down E. 10^th Street and make an obvious statement that fresh food can be found inside,” said Decker of his design. “The inspiration for the mural came from farmers markets, and the images are from photos that I took of locally-grown produce at markets around Indiana,” Decker continued.    

In addition, a team of other local artists have helped bring Decker’s vision to life by overseeing the project, working several nights to transfer images to the wall in preparation of the volunteer workday. Those experienced mural artist volunteers include Sara Lunsford, Jacqueline and Coleman Norris and Sarah Charles. The wall will be created in a paint-by-number style to allow community participation, even from non-artists. Costs for the mural are covered by a Façade Grant awarded by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation through the East 10^th Street Civic Association.

In addition to the mural, interior painting will continue, as will the cleaning up of donated equipment from Cafe Patachou owner, Martha Hoover. This donation allows the co-op to open its doors with a delicatessen, initially considered cost-prohibitive without the donation.

 “Patachou’s donation of coolers, deli cases and dishes saves the co-op at least $12,000, and allows us to provide sandwiches, soups and salads on day one,” said Monzel. “Donations and volunteers demonstrate the true collaborative spirit behind our community-owned grocer.”

For more information about the event or Pogue’s Run Grocer or Indy Food Co-op, visit www.indyfoodcoop.org , E.mail greg@poguesrungrocer.org, or call 317.677.2076.

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About Pogue’s Run Grocer and Indy Food Cooperative, Inc.

In the summer of 2007, a group of individuals met for the first time to begin discussing how to bring the city’s only non-profit, community-owned storefront grocery cooperative to Indianapolis. Since that time, a group of dedicated volunteers have been working hard to secure a location, raise funds and build membership for a grocery cooperative near downtown. The goal of the store is to support the local economy, while making local, fresh, organic and affordable food and products available to urban neighborhoods that currently are not served by healthy grocery options. The store will be open to the general public, offering additional benefits to its members. In addition to operating a store, Indy Food Co-op is dedicated to educating the community on healthier eating through outreach programs, cooking classes and more. The organization has reached 257 members to date, and the store is expected to open its doors in late Spring 2010, seeking to reach the 300 member mark by that time. In addition to memberships, the co-op is being supported by many community partners offering grants, pro bono services and volunteer time. To learn more, visit www.IndyFoodCoop.org , www.IndyFoodCoop.blogspot.com