Bringing the Birds to Life: The Story of APSI’s Mural Project

Where it All Began

Last year, the idea was sparked to transform the large exterior wall of APSI’s central office on High Street in Columbus into a mural. The goal was to create something that would not only beautify our space but also shine a light on the lives of the individuals we serve and the dedicated work happening every day at APSI. From the start, the vision centered on making this a project by and for people with developmental disabilities, allowing their creativity and voices to shape what the community sees when they pass by. 

The earliest concept imagined the mural as a kind of mosaic, drawing on individual pieces of artwork submitted by APSI clients and then, with the help of a professional muralist, weaving them into a larger unified design. The idea was simple yet powerful: what better way to illustrate the big picture of APSI’s mission than with an actual big picture composed of many unique contributions? 

Where the Idea Grew

To ensure that everyone who wished to participate could do so meaningfully, the team began crafting prompts to guide clients in creating art around a shared theme. The concept of independence stood out immediately. Questions were drafted such as, “Is there a place where you feel independent?” or “Is there someone who helps you feel independent?” Participants would then be invited to create drawings inspired by their personal reflections. 

While it was understood that not every piece might be suited for the mural wall itself, there was a promise that every submission would find a home in a digital gallery, honoring all contributions. Selected works would then be thoughtfully incorporated into the mural’s final design. 

Where We Regrouped

As promising as this plan was, the process of fine-tuning the questions became more challenging than expected. Months of meetings, presentations to the board, and discussions with our Advocacy Ambassadors brought constant revisions as we worked to ensure the prompts were inclusive, clear, and true to the project’s spirit. In striving for the perfect wording, progress slowed, and it soon became clear that a simpler, more universally engaging concept might serve the project even better. 

Where We Are Now

That breakthrough came with a new idea: “Birds of Encouragement.” Rather than rely on abstract questions, we would create and share simple bird outlines, almost like pages from a coloring book, and invite participants to choose a bird to decorate, color, or illustrate in any way they wished. Alongside their artwork, they could write a short message of encouragement, something they would want another person in their situation to hear. 

This gentle, open-ended prompt beautifully captures many of the original goals while being far more accessible. It centers on hope, community, and the shared journey so many APSI clients are on toward greater independence. The mural itself will carry this theme into its design. Its background will extend the natural tree line and ravine behind the APSI building, so that the birds appear nestled among familiar woods. As the mural progresses toward High Street, the scenery will gradually shift, with birds visible in migration, heading toward the horizon. The birds in migration represent APSI’s mission to help as many APSI clients as possible achieve independence, whether that be building their confidence in decision-making skills or achieving restoration. 

 “From coloring pages to migration murals: fostering independence one bird at a time.” 

What's Next

We have applied for funding through the Ohio Arts Council’s ArtsNEXT grant to help bring this vision to life. While the original plan was to hire a muralist to craft a mosaic of individual submissions, we realized it would be even more meaningful and truer to the project's spirit to collaborate with an art studio that directly employs artists with developmental disabilities. By partnering with InsideOut Studio, every step of the mural will be shaped by the very people it is meant to celebrate. It is not just for them; it is by them. 

Construction on the mural is set to begin in August, with completion anticipated by early fall. When it is complete, we plan to host an unveiling event, inviting all participating artists, supporters, local community members, and APSI friends to come together and celebrate. 

In addition to the mural, we are creating a digital gallery, allowing every piece of artwork submitted to be viewed and appreciated for years to come. This ensures that no contribution goes unseen and that the heart of the project continues to beat both within our local community and online. 

The dream is that this is just the beginning. As we expand our mission and broaden our reach, we’re committed to building on this positive momentum and creating even more opportunities for our clients to express themselves. These public works of art have the power to raise awareness, strengthen community ties, and inspire new supporters who want to champion the work APSI does. Every act of support writes another line in our shared story.

Visit our campaign page to stand with us and those we serve: apsiohio.org/mural-giving

Give Today