South Euclid is getting a little more colorful these days, thanks to an effort by One South Euclid (OSE). It began in 2019 with the yellow and purple mural “Come Together,” on the side of the then-House of Swing building at 4490 Mayfield Road, near S. Green Road.

Artist Lisa Quine’s “Come Together,” mural was inspired by South Euclid’s motto, “Come Together and Thrive,” and is meant to instill city pride.

The mural achieved its mission, says OSE executive director Annette Iwamoto. “The way the community responded, we knew we needed to do more public art,” she says.

So, the city recently put out a call for artists to submit proposals to paint another 50-foot wide, 24-foot tall mural on the west-facing side of the Johns-Carabelli Company building, 4202 Mayfield Road, near Belvoir Road.

Iwamoto says One South Euclid is looking for a design that not only celebrates South Euclid, but the historic contributions the city’s residents have made to Greater Cleveland as a whole. Agriculture and quarrying, with the 1867 opening of Duncan McFarland’s stone quarry along Euclid Creek, were two of the city’s earliest industries.

With its history in stone and quarries along Euclid Creek, Iwamoto says it makes sense that Johns-Carabelli Company would be the next business to get a mural. She says CFO Michael Johns contacted her about a mural, and the planning began.

Founded in 1879 by Giuseppe Carabelli and James Broggini as Carabelli & Broggini, Johns-Carabelli Company has been making granite monuments—many of which can be found at Lake View Cemetery—for 144 years through five generations of the Carabelli and Johns families.

One South Euclid Call for Artists Iwamoto says Johns-Carabelli is probably best known for the 1924 Haserot Angel, also known as “The Angel of Death Victorious, which marks the grave of Francis Haserot and his family in Lake View.

Other well-known works by Johns-Carabelli at Lake View include the John D. Rockefeller Obelisk, Wade Memorial Chapel, the Charles F. Brush Monument, and the gravestones of rock icons Alan Freed—whose marker is shaped like a jukebox—and Michael Stanley.

Proposals are already being accepted and the deadline for submissions is Friday, May 12 at midnight. One South Euclid board members and building owner Michael Johns will choose the winning design. The selected muralist will receive $500 to create a more detailed design of the proposed mural for final review.

Iwamoto says they are hoping to get submissions from artists of all backgrounds. “There is a lot of talent in the Greater Cleveland area, so we’re excited to see the proposed artwork,” she says. “We believe that art has the power to transform a community, inspire people, and promote community engagement.”

The chosen artist will then be paid up to $4,500 for the mural. OSE will reimburse eligible costs that include artist fees, materials, installation labor, and other costs related to the mural.