Maynard James Keenan, Gillian Anderson, and More – Grand Rapids’ New Mural Celebrates the City’s Entertainment Legacy

As a fan of history, music, and pop culture, I think Grand Rapids’ latest mural is particularly awesome! Seeing Maynard James Keenan and Gillian Anderson included on a massive downtown wall got my attention right away. Their ties to Grand Rapids might be well-known to many, but what really hooked me was discovering the rest of the names sharing the spotlight with them!

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Grand Rapids Debuts New Entertainment Alleyway Mural

Tucked right between the Studio Park Movie Theater and the parking ramp, this 6,000-square-foot piece, titled Entertainment Alleyway, weaves 300 years of local performance history into a vibrant, open-air gallery.

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Along with all those famous faces, the piece also recognizes the venues that helped shape generations of West Michigan music, movie, and theater lovers, including Studio 28, the Orbit Room, and the Civic Theatre.

While we see tons of temporary art roll through town every fall for ArtPrize, this is a work of art that will stay as a permanent addition to the Heartside District.

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Dwelling Place organized this effort through their Heartside Historic Mural Project, supported by Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. and Studio C. Artists Michi Farias, based right here in Grand Rapids, and Rhiannan Sibbald, a GR-based illustrator originally from Sault Ste. Marie, collaborated with a steering committee of residents and business owners, digging into local archives to map out our scene’s deep roots.

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Who Is Featured on the Wall? The Complete Guide

The wall honors traditional Woodland dancers from the Grand River Band of Ottawa alongside a legendary mix of talent and their connection to our city. If you stroll by to take it in, from left to right, these are the artists featured:

• Emma Abbott: 19th-century soprano opera singer born in Grand Rapids in 1850.
• Edith and Julianne Rambeau: Mother and daughter musicians who were foundational to early musical education in the city.
• Violet Macmillian: Vaudeville and silent film actress who starred in L. Frank Baum's early Wizard of Oz films.
• Carol Moore: The single-handed restoration force behind Wealthy Theatre and Hermitage at Diamond over four decades.
• Lorna Gray: Grand Rapids-born actress who starred in dozens of classic Columbia and Republic films.
• Bobby DeBarge: Motown, funk, and soul icon who grew up in GR before fronting Switch and DeBarge.
• Elizabeth Wilson: Tony-winning actress with deep Grand Rapids roots spanning stage, film, and television.
• Aydrian Day: Contemporary Woodland dancer and fashion designer preserving regional Indigenous culture.
• Ruth Ann Molenaar: Actress and educator who influenced nearly every Civic Theatre production over 40 years.
• Kim Zimmer: Daytime Emmy-winning soap opera star (Guiding Light) who grew up in Grand Rapids.
• Fergie Frederiksen: Grand Rapids native who went on to become the lead singer for Toto.
• Maynard James Keenan: Tool frontman who spent formative years in Wes Michigan and attended Kendall College of Art and Design.
• Gillian Anderson: X-Files star who spent her childhood growing up right here in Grand Rapids.

It is just the latest piece in an exciting wave of public art taking over Grand Rapids. From the riverfront mural that transformed a tagged wall into a focal point to the new piece welcoming visitors to the rebranded River North District, our city's walls keep finding incredible ways to tell our story.