One message, placed near East Third and South St. Clair streets, advises, “Do what you love, love what you do.”
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Another, near Twist Cupcakery, says, "Be a cupcake in a world of muffins."
Outside of the Neon movie theater, passersby are told, “You are a star!”
The words on the street are brought to you by young artists from the HAALO program.
The acronym stands for Helping Adolescents Achieve Long-term Objectives, and is a partnership between Montgomery County Juvenile Court and the K12 Gallery & TEJAS.
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Young people are painting about 35 inspirational and positive messages as part of a temporary art installation called Footsteps of Inspiration. About 15 of the affirmations have been installed and more are coming soon.
The art will remain for about 90 days — possibly longer — if the paint doesn’t fade.
“We’ve never had anything like this before,” said Brittini Long, community engagement coordinator with Montgomery County Juvenile Court.
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HALLO youth, as well other artists, have made downtown Dayton a lot more colorful.
Since 2010, participants in the HAALO Program, aided by other artists, have helped create 25 murals throughout the city.
One of the newer murals is at West Third and Williams streets in the Wright Dunbar neighborhood, which highlights highlights the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame.
The youth also produced 17 master replicas of famous artwork that adorn the side of some vacant buildings at East Third and Sears streets.
The Footsteps of Inspiration is expected to become an annual project.
Other art projects have similarly tried to liven up what could be otherwise drab elements of the urban landscape.
Nine of Dayton's storm drains are now eye-catching reminders that water alone is supposed to go into the storm water system.
The Dayton Arcade now has a cartoonish sleeping giant covering the north entrance to the property.
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