‘2Morrows’ helping beautify Mansfield with artwork

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Beautiful pieces of artwork should be enjoyed by the masses, not a select few. That’s what local artists Joel and Wendy Morrow believe.

“Something we’re interested in is artwork that everyone can see, or at least have the opportunity to see without having to go into a gallery or something,” said Joel.

“…Then it doesn’t just belong to who can afford it. It belongs to everybody,” Wendy added.

The “2Morrows” have been commissioned to create various artworks, including 15 abstract collages that are currently on display in the storefront of vacant Mansfield buildings. Richland Community Development Group commissioned the artwork as a beautification effort.

Helping beautify Mansfield with artwork is one of their desires.

“I like the idea of art being everywhere,” Joel said.

In 2001, the Morrows assisted John Thrasher, an associate professor of art at The Ohio State University at Mansfield, in painting the Johnny Appleseed mural in downtown Mansfield. That was their first experience with a large-scale mural. Three years later, the couple collaborated on the United We Stand mural, which is painted on the United Auto Workers’ building in Ontario.

They are currently restoring the mural of Jesus Christ at the Ohio State Reformatory and hope to have it finished up sometime this summer.

“It’s been really cool, but also very difficult,” Joel said of the project.

A couple weeks ago they spent some of their free time working on the piece side-by-side.  

“We’ve been together 16 years, so at this point in our relationship I can kind of just look at him and he knows what to do,” Wendy said with a laugh.  

The Morrows, who first met in Thrasher’s art class, primarily work on pieces on weekends and occasionally in the evenings, depending on the busyness of their schedules. They juggle art projects with their jobs at Mansfield City Schools–Joel is an English teacher at the high school and Wendy is a home instructor for the pupil services department. They also take care of their two children, Connar, 19, and Maggie, 10.

They agreed that art is something they’ve enjoyed doing since they were children.  

“I think sometimes you’re born with certain skills and that’s how we both were,” in respect to art, Wendy said.

Their favorite medium is acrylic painting, but they also enjoy other art forms like ceramics and functional art.

Joel added he likes creative writing, describing, “My creative writing is kind of like painting with words.”

Though they’re passionate about art, they said they don’t foresee it becoming a fulltime gig. “We’re invested in being educators,” Wendy said.

However, they shared that they may eventually sell artwork via their website.

“And whether we sell artwork or not, we’re still going to make stuff because that’s what we do,” said Wendy.