New mural on Atlanta’s Westside plants seeds of inspiration

“The seeds were planted so you can dream.”

That’s the message painted on a new, large-scale mural on Atlanta’s Westside. Officially unveiled last month, the mural designed by artist Joseph McKinney pays tribute to the community’s past, while sowing seeds of inspiration for the future.

Aptly called "The Seeds that are Planted," the mural spans more than 5,000 square feet, making it one of the city's largest pieces of public art, according to the Westside Future Fund.

The mural features portraits of the Rev. Joseph E. Boone and Ivory Lee Young Jr. The artwork, on the street that bears Boone’s name, is a tribute to two of the neighborhood’s fallen legends. Young, the former city councilman, died in 2018.

Atlanta Councilman Antonio Brown who took over Young’s District 3 seat said that the mural is a chance to bridge generations in the community.

"This mural is a beautification project for our community that's aimed at providing a strong sense of pride and inspiration in our district," Brown said in a statement.

At the dedication event in January, Brown added "Kids walking home from school will look up and see this mural and be led to ask a simple but powerful question: 'Who is that?' And, in that single dynamic moment, a legacy will be forged."

Family members of both Boone and Young also spoke at the event.

In recent years, the city’s Westside has been home to rapid development and change.

Just this week, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms put a halt on additional construction permits near the new Westside Park.