Origins of the Mural

With A Little Help From My Friends was originally painted in 1996 by Dr. Bob Hieronimus and with the help of artists Katie Butler, Lyle Kissack, and Gerald Ross. The mural showcases portraits of icons known for their humanitarianism, creativity, and talent including Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Bob Marley, Harriet Tubman, and Bob Dylan, among others. The entire mural was completed in only 17 days and was awarded “Best Mural” by local Baltimore television station WMAR-TV. The dedication ceremony for the mural was attended by several heroes and dignitaries including Rachel Carson’s grandson, China democracy advocate Liu Gang, and Hall of Famer Leon Day’s widow, Geraldine. The mural was also visited several times by Ziggy and Stephen Marley, sons of Bob Marley, in 1996 and 1997.

Restoration and Media Coverage

In 2008, Baltimore, MD was one of four cities chosen to participate in the Home and Garden Television Network’s (HGTV) “Save the World, Start at Home” initiative. This initiative would include the restoration of several projects around the city with the help of talent and crew from HGTV, volunteers, and support from companies such as Rebuilding Together, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Natural Resources Defense Council. With an invitation from Baltimore Green Construction and Rebuilding Together Baltimore, Dr. Hieronimus and his crew of artists and assistants began to restore the original 1996 mural.

The sponsoring organizations were also funding renovations on the Mediation Center building including energy efficient doors, windows, and a green roof. This posed a challenge for the mural restoration crew as well as the parts of the mural that were too damaged to simply paint over, requiring the bricks to be demolished and re-cemented. Out of the 17 days of the process, it rained 11. The crew remained steadfast though and completed the restored piece in May of 2008.

See With A Little Help From Our Friends Today!

To see With A Little Help From Our Friends in person, visit the Baltimore Community Mediation Center at 3333 Greenmount Ave.

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