In 2013, when the first Jackson 5 mural was unveiled in downtown Gary, it became one of the most beloved pieces of public art in the city. But over time, it gradually deteriorated and the building was torn down in 2018.
Now, over a decade later, the mural has been reborn on Lake Street.
Commissioned by local donors, and spearheaded by community leaders and organizations, the new mural is on an exterior wall of Vogue Cleaners & Shirt Laundry at 610 S. Lake St.
At Friday’s official unveiling, a crowd of over 30 people gathered in the parking lot in front of the mural to celebrate the city’s rich musical heritage. Jackson family members, city officials, and single-gloved impersonators alike cheered and mingled as a DJ spun some of the group’s hit records. Some grooved while staying cool in their cars, while others stood in the 80-degree weather to take in the view of the large black-and-white mural.
Standing under the mural, which is three times larger than its predecessor, Jackson family member Patricia Johnson recalled the Jacksons’ humble beginnings at what is now 2300 Jackson St.
“This feels exciting. We grew up with them when they were rising, and they performed in our basement,” she said.
As one of the remaining members of the Jackson family who still lives in Gary, she’s been waiting for this day for a long time. Now, she says it’s an honor to see her family represented in the city where it all began.
“I’m really honored that the city thought of the family to do it,” she said. “I sent the mural to Jackie!” she added, in addition to other family members. “Everybody’s happy!”
The mural is one of a handful of upcoming city-funded projects honoring Gary’s musical heritage and promoting tourism to the area.
Mayor Eddie Melton said the long-awaited refresh comes with perfect timing, as part of the city’s efforts to beautify its public spaces, and amplify its rich history for future generations.
“I think right now we see an uptick of visitors to the city,” Melton told Capital B Gary. “That’s one aspect of it, but also just to celebrate our culture in an era where they’re erasing history books and taking them off the shelves, what are we doing as a community is showing the next generation, you know, where we came from and how we’ve contributed to society and to the culture.”
The artist behind the mural, Felix “Flex” Maldonado, has done previous work in Northwest Indiana. Maldonado spoke about his inspiration for the piece:
“The Jackson family’s music helped define a generation — and it all started right here in Gary,” Maldonado said. “I wanted this new mural to feel alive, so that people can connect with the joy and pride this city feels for them. It’s not just art — it’s a celebration of legacy.”
Standing in the doorway of Dialogue Wine Bar, across the street from the mural, DJ Dark Nite was spinning tunes to classic Jackson hits like “I’ll Be There,” “You Rock My World,” and “Man in the Mirror.”
“I’m so excited,” said the Gary native, who was born and raised in the west side. As not only a local artist, but an employee of one of the local restaurants in Miller across the street from the mural, he said he looks forward to seeing more people visit and explore the area. “Today is a great day.”
Melton said that the city will be adding a significant investment into more public art work throughout the rest of the year, including collaborating with Indiana University Northwest’s School of Arts on a series of murals honoring more of Gary’s history and some of its other influential citizens, including singer and four-time Grammy winner Deniece Williams, another Jackson Family mural, and Vivian Carter from Vee-Jay Records, all set to come to the Broadway corridor.