Cincinnatians Celebrate US@250 by Painting Sawyer Point Skating Rink
Skate Downtown Cincy, in partnership with Art on the Streets, Cincinnati Parks, and a national collaborator, Think Big Alliance, announces PaintNSkate, a two-day community art and skating event at the Riverfront Rink in Sawyer Point to celebrate the USA’s 250th birthday.
The celebration will take place April 18 from 12 to 6 pm for a public painting day, when everyone can pick up a brush and paint the rink, followed by a ribbon
cutting and skating party on April 19 from 2 to 3 pm, featuring DJ V Vibez.
In partnership with the greater Cincinnati community, artist Pam Kravetz leads the painting, with artists Rick Wolf and Matt Whitby. The sponsors are inviting the public to join in painting a large-scale, skateable mural that centers a simple but powerful idea: In America, the people are supposed to be in charge.
The inspiration for the artwork comes from the community itself: members of the skate community offered ideas which the artists will bring to life with a large design for the rink.
“This community inspired creative approach to meeting local interests is a model championed by Art on the Streets in many Cincinnati area projects like the Pleasant Street asphalt murals and the annual BRIGHT Ride led by the bicycle community,” says Margy Waller, founder of Art on the Streets, “And it is a perfect way to celebrate our 250 th birthday as a nation.”
A Mural Designed for Movement and Meaning
The mural will span approximately 40 by 60 feet across half of the Riverfront Rink, the largest waterfront skating surface in North America. Designed as a playful, whimsical, and functional artwork, the surface will include painted lines that guide skating patterns, support roller derby scrimmages, and allow for street hockey setup for the new NHL STREET youth hockey program launching at the rink this spring.
The visual concept centers on ‘crowning’ everyday people in the Queen City and beyond. The design celebrates community members who bring their skills,
experiences, and passion into shared spaces. It reflects five years of volunteer-led activation at the rink, where skaters have helped maintain, beautify, and reimagine the space. That work has built a new generation of park stewards and civic participants in Cincinnati.
This approach celebrates a core American belief: real power and progress grow
from the ground up, through participation, shared responsibility, and collective
action.
Defining Patriotism Through Action
PaintNSkate positions patriotism as something you do with others, not something you passively observe. The project highlights solidarity, inclusion, civic pride, and shared responsibility.
Research conducted for Think Big shows that Americans think of our nation’s story as all the people who work together to shape their communities, through organizing, volunteering, creative collaboration, and more. These activities increase a sense of pride, belonging, and motivation to participate in civic life.
“Our partnership in PaintNSkate brings this idea to life by turning a public space into a site of collaboration, creativity, and ownership. The mural becomes both a visual statement of the way community comes together and a functional tool for community use.” said Morgan Rigaud of Skate Downtown Cincy.
SPONSORS
Art on the Streets supports and encourages artists and arts organizations working with people to address community planning and equitable development goals.
Skate Downtown Cincy is a community-driven initiative that activates public spaces through roller skating, arts, and cultural programming. The organization focuses on building inclusive environments where people connect, contribute, and take pride in shared spaces.
Cincinnati Parks manages and preserves public green spaces across the city,
providing access to recreation, nature, and community gathering places. The
department works to ensure parks serve residents through programming,
stewardship, and long-term care.
Think Big Alliance is a national nonprofit bringing together advocates and
communicators across issue areas to think big, learn together, and share strategies.
ARTISTS
Pam Kravetz is a Cincinnati-based artist known for large-scale, community-
centered public art. Her work focuses on participatory design, transforming
everyday spaces into collaborative environments that reflect shared identity and civic pride.
Rick Wolf is a visual artist and muralist whose work spans public art, illustration, and design. He brings a focus on storytelling through bold visual language and collaborative processes.
ASSISTING ARTISTS
Ryan Lewis
Margeaux Lim
Eddie Rigaud
Junius Smith
TC Thomason
Matt Whitby
PaintNSkate Details
WHERE
Riverfront Rink at Sawyer Point, 907 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio
WHEN
Saturday April 18, 12 to 6 pm
Public Painting Day: Everyone is welcome to stop by and paint for a few minutes or more! Supplies provided.
Sunday April 19, 2 to 3 pm
Skating Celebration with DJ V Vibez: Open to the public. All ages welcome. Bring your own skates or borrow ours - Free!
In the event of rain, we will meet same time, same place, following weekend! Stay tuned to SDC social media channels for updates.
