A heartfelt “thanks” for local business was recently installed in downtown Crawfordsville.
Working with Crawfordsville Main Street and with the support of businesses throughout the city, local artist Nina Cunningham found a way to show gratitude and support for small business owners during this time of crisis.
A heart-shaped design comprised of yellow roses — a traditional symbol of friendship — now greets passersby in the second-floor window of the Fusion 54 building, located at the intersection of Washington and Main streets.
“I want to help the small businesses downtown to know they’re supported and encourage them any way I can,” Cunningham said. “The color yellow typically has a negative, cowardice or fear aspect to it, but if you look it up it really stands for friendship, optimism and support.”
Together with Crawfordsville Main Street Program Director Sue Lucas, who regularly collaborates with Cunningham for graphics downtown, the pair began with the idea of a single yellow rose.
The rose, which starts as a bud and blooms into a flower, is intended to symbolize where the country is headed during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“I had messaged (Cunningham) about four weeks ago and said I would love to do some sort of graphic for the businesses downtown,” Lucas said. “Small businesses are so often the connecting points in a community, and this is an opportunity to say, ‘We see you and we’re grateful for you,’ and to encourage them.
“There’s an old saying — small business, big heart.”
The 15-inch vinyl laminates were designed by Cunningham and produced free-of-charge by Crawford Industries. In time, the pair hopes to find a way to provide scaled versions of the design in the Fusion 54 building for other businesses.
For more information about the design and how to support local businesses, visit Crawfordsville Main Street on Facebook or by using the hashtag #yellowrose4biz.
