This mural is located on the south side of Elder St. between Race and Elm, next to Findlay Market. It depicts some typical market moments in a series of brightly painted panels.
I have a few questions. Who’s behind this public art project? Who was the artist? How long has this been here? I first noticed this mural probably 3-4 months ago and, if you tell me that it’s 5 years old, I’ll be extremely embarrassed.
Department of Everyday Visualingual 
I’m not particularly fond of this series. Some are OK, but the shots of the people at the counter are really dry – they don’t particularly seem as vibrant as Findlay really is on any given weekend. Seems that the artist could have picked more dynamic photos to copy, or developed something more enticing on his/her own.
Well, Matt, if we’re going to nit pick… It’s illogical to stand with your back to the market, looking at these simplified representations of what happens inside the market. You may as well just paint a sign that says “turn around and enjoy Findlay.” I would prefer a different subject, personally, but a mural is better than no mural, I suppose. I do agree that the panels don’t really do justice to the sensory overload that’s found inside.
I agree – I enjoy murals as well, and the market. Wasn’t trying to lambaste here, just thought you posted this for critique and opinion.
Overall, I’m just glad an artist got paid to do a mural there… nuff said.
I didn’t mean to discourage critique. I appreciate that there’s a mural at that location, but I really don’t love it. I hate to poo-poo something like this in my neighborhood, but the subject really is sort of redundant and illogical. The site was an opportunity to add to the context of Findlay, not repeat it.
so we’re in agreement! yay! 🙂
Kinda heavy on the fish aspect…..
Wow, I can’t believe I didn’t notice all the fish!
Ok, so the subject matter is a tidge redundant, but I do like the method of using photographs as a kind of paint by number. My friend Galina does something similar (but better, of course!) What kind of mural would you put up? The mural medium doesn’t exactly conjure up greatness when I think about it.
I’m pretty sure that the murals are painted over a storage area for Luken’s fish and poultry (hence the appearance of Luken’s signage and many fishy scenes on the paintings). Its mostly a bit of advertising, and while not artistically challenging, I appreciate it more than a busted up storefront/meatlocker. If they hung meat there it would be another thing, but you really can’t do that with cold fish.
If you peak in the door thats next to the murals on any given weekend you can see a stack of butcher aprons piling up on a banister inside, which is where I drew the connection to it actually being their storage space, rather than random scenes from the market.
Also, some of those are definitely Findlay, but the ones with people holding fish are not Findlay stalls, unless they were historical pictures. I was going to ask where you think some of them are from, but a suspicion was proved correct with a quick google search: the seattle fish market
Oh, duh. I had noticed Luken’s storage on Elder before, but somehow didn’t connect that with this mural. Now the subject makes perfect sense, and it’s not redundant, since it is basically advertising Luken’s in a non-signage way. I had thought this was a community mural of some sort.
As for copying other people’s photos from other fish markets, LAME.
This mural was commisioned by Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, who has had a number of other murals done around the Market during the past several years. it was attached to Lukens building which is his office/warehouse building (they wholesale to many area restraunts. The Findlay Market District is home to many examples of Public Art. From Central Parkway & W. Elder St. east to the Metro bus stop on Race St. And from the North Parking lot on Findlay St. to the South Parking lot between Race and Pleasant Sts.
Thanks so much for sharing further insight into this mural project. It’s not always obvious how these instances of public art came about, or where they originated.