URGENT UPDATE: A dynamic couple is on a mission to transform Southwest Michigan through public art, unveiling over 50 murals that are already brightening communities. Erik Vasilaushas and Anna Lee Roeder, who met during a performance at a major music festival in 2012, are committed to beautifying their adopted city of Kalamazoo and beyond.
Their organization, Dream Scene Placemaking, has been actively enhancing the aesthetic landscape since 2019. With a growing portfolio of projects, their work now extends beyond Kalamazoo to include locations such as Bridgman, Vicksburg, and even international cities like Bali and Mexico City.
“It’s thrilling to change the way the community looks,” said Vasilaushas, who grew up in Holland, Michigan. Their journey began with a colorful refresh of Kik Pool in 2019 and has since expanded to notable sites like Bell’s Eccentric Café and Factory Coffee.
Their impact goes further than aesthetics; it’s about community involvement. Roeder’s past projects, including the “We are Edison” initiative, featured 100 portraits of local residents, showcasing the area’s diversity. The couple’s work highlights the importance of engaging community members in the artistic process.
“We want to give agency and encourage others to beautify their spaces,” Vasilaushas emphasized, making their mission both impactful and meaningful.
The couple draws inspiration from a transformative trip to Southeast Asia in 2015, where they first encountered vibrant street art. This experience ignited their passion for public art, leading them to establish their life together in Kalamazoo.
In addition to murals, their innovative projects include the City Snaps initiative, which allowed community members to use disposable cameras to capture life in Kalamazoo. The resulting photographs have been featured on utility boxes throughout the city, encouraging local engagement and creativity.
Roeder, who is pursuing her master’s degree at Western Michigan University, plans to intertwine her studies with her passion for art. She aims to explore how art can facilitate therapeutic processes, particularly in family settings.
This summer, they successfully coordinated a community mural installation that brought together 100 participants to create art during Bridgman Days, demonstrating the power of collaboration in community building.
The couple also invests in the next generation of artists through Kzoo Parks’ All Things Possible program, guiding high school students in public art creation. Their goal is to inspire confidence and creativity among young people, showcasing their works around the city.
As they continue to expand their artistic footprint, both Vasilaushas and Roeder remain focused on maintaining a community-centered approach while exploring their individual artistic visions.
For those interested in viewing their work or collaborating, visit their websites at dreamsceneplacemaking.com or follow them on Instagram @dreamscene_placemaking.
This ongoing project is more than just a beautification effort; it’s a community movement, bringing people together through art and creativity. Stay tuned for more updates as they continue their mission to light up Southwest Michigan, one mural at a time.
