OGDEN -- A mural celebrating Ogden's growing stature as a sports activities center is being painted on the side of a parking structure at 23rd Street and Washington Boulevard.
"Breaking Through" is designed to represent the changes the city has made, including its attraction of top sporting activities.
"Ogden's breaking through the stigma of being just a roller town," said Sherry Ferrin, the artist painting the mural in vinyl paint.
Her son, Josh Ferrin, a professional designer, created the image she is enlarging and duplicating.
"We're just excited to share our art with the city and be a part of the transformation the city has been making the last few years," said Josh Ferrin. "We're excited to show what Ogden is all about."
Currently, a 75-foot section of the mural features a road biker and a climber who are "breaking through" shards of red, purple and burgundy.
Another 81-foot section to the north of the existing design will feature a runner, kayaker and BMX biker "breaking through" shards of green, blue and reddish orange.
Ferrin said she expects to have that part up by Christmas.
"People have come by to take pictures because it's something different than a garage door," she said.
Dan Musgrave, executive director of Downtown Ogden Inc., is pleased with the image.
It's the seventh mural painted in Ogden in a decade.
"People who come in to town to visit love the murals and paintings," Musgrave said.
The image sits kitty-corner from a mural of a cowboy on the range, which advertises Ogden Pioneer Days.
"We had that one retouched this spring for the rodeo and brought all its color back," Musgrave said.
He believes the paintings do much for the city, including limiting graffiti.
"When they've gone up where there's been graffiti, the areas surrounding it don't get graffiti," he said. "I think the kids respect the art. We've never had a mural receive graffiti yet."
Brandon Cooper, senior development coordinator with the city's office of Community and Economic Development, said the mural is important to Ogden for several reasons, including brightening up the corner where it's located and capping off the parking structure project it highlights.
"It provides some life to that parking lot. It's local art. We need a lot more of that displayed in the city."
Cooper said city officials and the Ferrins worked hard to come up with a vibrant design that represents the direction Ogden is heading in the 21st century.
"That's what we've been working toward in terms of a city brand," he said.
"We've had a lot of national and international recognition for that. I think the artist captured it very well."
Cooper said the mural is just one of many more to come.
Ferrin's grandchildren, Seth Ferrin, 17, Landon Ferrin, 15, and Sage Tolotti, 14, helped her on the project Thursday. She also was assisted by her son-in-law, Mike Aguilar, who helped remove pipes and screws and other structural leftovers from outdated uses.
"It's been nice to have this be a family project," Ferrin said. "It's neat to have three generations involved."
The mural is being paid for out of a 1 percent tax collected for arts and assessed against all capital improvements.
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