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International Art Project Seeks To Transform Flint's Image

Flint sign over street
WKAR File Photo
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WKAR-MSU

Artists from Michigan and around the world are painting 50 murals in Flint to refocus the city's image on art rather than the lead-tainted water crisis.

The Flint Public Art Project's Director Joe Schipani tells The Flint Journal that they aim to create 100 murals in the city by fall 2020.

Schipani says Flint's image has been muddied by the events in 2014 that led to the city's drinking water becoming contaminated, and a Netflix series, "Flint Town," about crime in the area. He hopes bringing international artists to town will encourage visitors to notice Flint for other reasons.

Simo Vibart from Argentina is among the artists painting murals. Vibart says the environmental crisis was all he knew of Flint, but that its real value is its people.

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