Newest Cincinnati Bell Connector Wrap Celebrates Convergence of Art Forms
Feb 17, 2022
CINCINNATI, FEB. 17, 2021 – The newest arts-themed wrap for a Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar makes its debut today, a bold, colorful design that highlights the convergence of visual and performing arts.
“We’re excited to unveil another stunning design,” said Matthew Hulme, City of Cincinnati Interim Streetcar Director. “Each design is unique, but also conveys a shared message of how the arts connects us as a community, makes our region more vibrant and brings joy into our daily lives.”
Local artist Adoria L. Maxberry designed the newest wrap as part of a design competition put on by the City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell and ArtsWave. The public voted on their favorites and designs by the top vote-getters are featured on several streetcars.
The highlights of Maxberry’s stylized design include colorful, larger-than-life depictions of the Tyler Davidson Fountain’s Genius of Water on Fountain Square, pink ballet slippers, paint brushes, pencils and film reels.
Maxberry is a visual arts educator at Woodford Academy, a lead teaching artist for Artworks, a voice actress and puppeteer. She has a master’s degree in visual arts education and licensure from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) and a bachelor of arts from Xavier University.
Brent Billingsley, another local artist, won the competition. His “WE ARE ALL HUE-MAN” design celebrates diversity within the arts and in society as depicted in the faces of children. It was unveiled Feb. 2, coinciding with the kickoff of ArtsWave’s annual fundraising campaign.
The City of Cincinnati, ArtsWave and Cincinnati Bell have collaborated to rewrap the exteriors of all five streetcars to reflect an arts theme. The city owns the streetcar system. Cincinnati Bell bought naming rights at the time it began passenger service in 2016
The first streetcar to get a new wrap has a “Music Hall” theme. It was unveiled last September to mark the streetcar system’s fifth anniversary. Another newly wrapped streetcar features BLINK. That design was unveiled the same day the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber announced the art, light and culture festival would return to Cincinnati this October.
The new design for the fifth and final streetcar wrap will be unveiled later this month.
The Cincinnati Bell Connector is free to ride every day. Operating hours are:
- Monday: Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.