Venetian Marina mural brings art to Sandusky’s First Street

What is it:  If you’ve driven down First Street in Sandusky in the last couple of weeks, you may have noticed a new mural taking shape on an exterior wall of Venetian Marina. The new art project is sponsored by the marina and is being designed and painted by Sandusky native Derek Brennan.

The mural covers about 1,500 square feet and will be finished by the end of the month, weather permitting, says Kula Hoty Lynch of Hoty Enterprises, Inc., which owns Venetian Marina.

The artist: Brennan has completed multiple murals in the area, including for the Oak Harbor Library, the Marketplace at the Cooke, Noble Axes, the “Live Green” mural on the building that houses A & B Hobbies & Cycles, and, most recently, on the apartment building at the corner of East Washington and Hancock streets in downtown Sandusky.

The design: “We gave a lot of creative license to Derek on the concept, because we wanted to see what he would come up with,” says Hoty Lynch. “He’s the artist after all!”

Along with items that are linked to the area – including the Shores & Islands Ohio logo, a Lyman boat, the Washington Park floral clock, and a roller coaster, Brennan added his own spin on a beloved Sandusky icon.

“He came to use with ‘The boy and his sneaker,’ which was inspired by the iconic Boy with the Boot statue downtown, wanting to celebrate Sandusky’s rich history, culture and forward-looking spirit,” Hoty Lynch says. “We worked with him on some specific elements and are so pleased with the final outcome.”

Don’t worry, Boy with the Boot fans: He is represented in the mural as well.

The funding: The mural, which cost about $30,000, was made possible in part due to a matching grant from Shores & Islands Ohio, Hoty Lynch says. 

The grant, she notes, “was fantastic because it helped us add to the scope of the overall project, letting us essentially fill the building.”

Why is it important: The Venetian Marina mural is one of the many art projects that have been popping up around town, but it is the first in this particular area. 

“We are very excited to bring some art to the First Street neighborhood,” Hoty Lynch says. “While it is a gateway to Cedar Point, it is also home for a lot of residents and local workers and we hope that this creates some added interest and pride in the neighborhood.”