How Big Bowl of Ideas Brought History to Life with a 900 Square Foot Mural
When the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA) put out a call for a mural beneath the Whirlpool Bridge, they wanted something ambitious: a work of art that would honor the powerful local history of freedom seekers crossing into Canada, complement the nearby Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and invite residents and visitors alike to reflect on Niagara Falls’ role in stories of liberation.
Big Bowl of Ideas responded with a bold proposal rooted in collaboration, cultural storytelling, and large-scale artistic execution. The result: a 14 foot high by 60 foot wide mural, nearly 900 square feet, that now stands as a testament to freedom, community, and creativity.
We call it “We ____ Freedom.”
The Challenge
NFNHA’s RFP outlined several key goals:
- Celebrate stories of freedom tied to the Underground Railroad.
- Create a dynamic, artistically forward mural.
- Engage the community in shaping the project.
- Complete the project within a tight budget and timeline.
The site, a massive 900 square foot (15’ h x 64’w) concrete underpass wall, was both highly visible and historically significant, making the project as symbolic as it was logistically complex.
The BBOI Approach
Big Bowl of Ideas came in with both vision and process. True to our name, we actually submitted 3 different concepts for this particular wall, located across the street from the Underground Railroad Museum itself. In the end the NFNHA team went with Concept #3.
Concept Development: BBOI conducted research into local black history and stories that could anchor the mural, from the Suspension Bridge’s role in the Underground Railroad to the Niagara Movement’s legacy.
Our President, Wyatt Closs, served as the Artistic Director for all of our submissions. For this particular concept, he devised the idea of anchoring the word ‘Freedom’ and then crafted the words to the left of it to reflect the past, present and future associated with that value. It was also fused with the notion of a high contrast graphic novel style as well inside of the letters.
Design: We translated this vision into bold, culturally resonant imagery by filling the letters of Freedom with the scenes and historical figures from our research. We went through several iterations of this approach until landing on the design presented which became the basis of the final product.
Original version of Concept #3
Alternative version of Concept #3
Production Strategy: Initially, the team explored vinyl application and wheat paste mural methods but pivoted back to a hand painted approach after NFNHA’s selection panel wanted a more traditional manual mounting.
Execution: While the mural itself was based on a graphic design created by the BBOI Design Team, we asked multidisciplinary artist and long time collaborator Mer Young to replicate and adjust for painting by hand, with her own sharp features that show in her other works. She traveled to Niagara Falls to paint the mural by hand, layering color, history, and narrative directly onto the concrete surface.
This collaborative model of concept, design, and art-by-hand execution is at the heart of BBOI’s approach to public art: bringing together creative strategists and community-oriented artists to deliver something that resonates deeply.
The Outcome
The finished mural is more than just a painting. It is a monument. Spanning 900 square feet, it blends historical storytelling with contemporary design. Its presence along Whirlpool Street, steps from where freedom seekers once crossed into Canada, ensures that thousands of people encounter its message daily.
Community members have embraced the work as both an educational tool and a point of pride, while NFNHA sees it as a continuation of its mission to preserve and promote the region’s cultural heritage.
Why It Matters
For Big Bowl of Ideas, this project demonstrates what happens when a client’s historic mission meets a creative partner unafraid to think big.
- Scale and Impact: Large format, high visibility mural installation.
- Cultural Relevance: Tied directly to local heritage and community identity.
- Collaborative Model: Leveraged a trusted creative network to move from concept to completion.
As NFNHA continues building its public art corridor, the Whirlpool Bridge mural is proof of how BBOI helps clients transform walls into storytelling canvases that spark dialogue, memory, and inspiration.
Work With Us
If your organization is looking for more than a mural, if you want an artwork that reflects your values, engages your community, and leaves a legacy, Big Bowl of Ideas is ready to partner with you.
We have also created a practical resource to help you start planning: our Mounting a Mural Checklist.
From concept and design to production and execution, BBOI brings cultural fluency, creative expertise, and tactical know-how to turn your vision into a moving message.
