Coming Soon: Ada Railroad Murals
Partnering with Ada Township, Lions and Rabbits is excited to begin painting murals on Ada Railroads with local artists Christina Hutton and Dave Battjes! This project began in the summer of 2022 while working to redevelop the Ada Arts Council. Centered around community representation, increasing vibrancy, and creating new artist opportunities, the Ada Railroad Mural project was born. Slated to begin mid-June, you can view Christina’s underpass wall and bridge mural on Ada Dr. SE between Bronson St. SE and Rix St SE. To see Dave’s Bridge Mural, follow Thornapple River Dr. SE both North and South by Leonard Park. Read below to learn more about the artists!
Map of Murals on Ada Dr. SE (Christina Hutton) and Thornapple River Dr. SE (Dave Battjes)
Christina Hutton: Meet the Artist
Growing up in Grand Rapids, MI, I spent a lot of time outside playing and wandering around the woods. My painting tends to take on a childlike wonder through the exploration of Michigan’s wildlife. I always find myself curious about the history of places and the creatures that live there. The natural world tends to take over my paintbrush and I dive into a colorful world full of native, threatened, and endangered species.
My murals provide a moment of happiness and community. I paint to bring smiles to faces and allow the noise of life to subside for just a moment.
Q: How did you get involved or hear about Lions and Rabbits?
A: Around the time Lions and Rabbits was gaining their footing, I started actively participating in community events as an artist. In 2021 I had the opportunity to work with Lions and Rabbits on the Storm Drain Mural Program.
Q: What mediums do you use? How do you start, flow and finish?
A: Using a digital canvas, I start by drawing the plants and animals that end up in my art. I then move on to sketching and doodling in the background, then moving the focal points around until they tell a story. When creative blocks wiggle their way into my art, I pack up and head into the woods or down a river for inspiration from the birds and bugs.
Christina’s design for Ada Dr. SE mural (Westbound)
Q: How did your career as an artist begin?
A: Growing up with dirt on my hands and sand in my toes, my mom always encouraged me to draw. Through high school and college, I continued with art classes, focusing on printmaking, and ended up with an Art History degree. Opportunities continued presenting themselves to use my creativity and I always jumped at the chance. In 2021, I climbed onto a wall to paint my first large-scale mural.
Q: What is the function of artists in society? What does being an artist mean to you?
A: Artists mark a moment in history. Luckily, history isn’t stagnated. It keeps changing and moving, and artists create new spaces to mark their own thoughts on current events. My public art draws attention to flora and fauna that could soon be gone, giving significance to a moment when it did exist.
Q: What was your initial reaction to receiving the Ada Railroad Mural Project?
A: After receiving an email about the Ada Railroad bid, it took me a week to realize that I had actually won the bid. I didn’t think I was going to get the mural and was anticipating using the art I had drawn for a few other projects I had in mind. Once the shock wore off, the excitement settled in and I’ve been a little ball of energy ever since. I can’t wait to get this installation underway and start bringing life to the space.
Christina’s design for Ada Dr. SE mural (Eastbound)
Dave Battjes: Meet the Artist
Hi, I'm Dave. I love painting big letters on crusty outdoor walls, playing with my hyperactive dogs, and scrolling endlessly through art and design on Dribbble and Pinterest. Letterforms are my go-to whenever I pick up a pencil and paper. I started playing with letters back in 2012 and found a medium I wanted to stick with.
Q: How did you get involved or hear about Lions and Rabbits?
A: I was connecting with other artists and they were all asking if I ever talked with Hannah before. It was pretty clear that Lions and Rabbits was a major hub for Grand Rapids artists.
Q: How did your career as an artist begin?
A: I've always been an artist. Like most kids, I loved to draw. I would get a lot of recognition amongst my teachers and peers so I just kept doing it and never really stopped. I first started playing with letters back in 2005 when I got the graffiti bug. It took me until going to school in 2010 for Graphic Design to finally get serious about a career in the creative field. Everything I learned just brought me right back to letterforms. Most of what I've learned in hand lettering has been self-taught but all the rules of typography I learned in school.
Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?
A: Inspiration comes from anywhere. There are so many talented people creating incredible works every day. It's impossible not to find something that gets you excited to create. The original artists that got me into lettering are Erik Maranovich, Jessica Hische, Greg Lamarche, Revok, Mary Kate McDevitt, Dan Cassaro, and Margaret Kilgallen. The list has ballooned since then but I still feel a connection to their styles.
Dave’s design for Thornapple River Dr. SE mural (to be on both sides)
Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?
A: The art community in Grand Rapids is fantastic. Everyone is so supportive and caring. I would feel more supported if I joined in on more events. I'll make that a goal of 2023 so look out there for me. I'll be sure to high-five you.
Q: Tell us a bit about your design for the Thornapple River Dr. SE mural!
A: I love plants! I’m an avid hiker and collector of outdoor memories. My family and I often stop to take photos of plants on our hikes to discover more about them later. This mural is an expression of our wonderment of the natural world. If we slow down, we can see the natural world unfolding in our backyards or finding its way into our concrete jungles. Art will always invoke an opinion and those opinions spark conversations. This mural is meant to spark conversations of positivity and pride in place.
Follow more of Christina’s work at https://tenfingerfish.com, @tenfingerfishstudio on Instagram, and Ten Finger Fish Studio on Facebook.
Follow more of Dave’s work on davebattjes.com and @davebattjes on Instagram.
Check out other artists' stories on our blog!
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