TRAVERSE CITY — Third Level Crisis Intervention Center will celebrate its 40th anniversary by contributing a mosaic mural to the community it serves.
"We asked local artists, students, really anyone to contribute a drawing of what Third Level means to them," said Sandy Piotrowski, the crisis counseling center's fund development director.
More than 1,400 drawings, each on an 8½-inch-by-11-inch sheet of paper, were collected and have been transformed into an artwork based on the theme "We help people grow, change and thrive."
The finished product will be 4 feet by 6 feet.
A West Bloomfield nonprofit took each individual drawing, then scanned and reduced them, part of a process to create the mosaic.
Hillary Burns, public relations specialist for Oneupweb in Traverse City, said she can't wait to see the final result. Burns and her coworkers contributed 50 drawings to the project.
"We included motivational, inspirational and uplifting messages in our drawings," said Burns, who wanted to get behind the project and support the organization that provides crisis counseling, free legal aid, Pete's Place youth shelter, Youth and Family Services, and Street Outreach.
The final piece of art will be unveiled during a celebration beginning today at 6 p.m. at the State Theatre.
A performance of "Drift" by the Traverse City West Senior High Thespian Society will follow, along with a raffle and presentation of the documentary "Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County," at 8 p.m. Admission is free.
Raffle tickets can be purchased for $2 with prizes including a sail for six on the Maritime Heritage Alliance's Champion, a Crystal Mountain package with four lift tickets, and a Mongoose mountain bike donated by Tom's Food Market.
The mural will be displayed by local businesses throughout the 20-county area served by Third Level.
"The mural will serve as an acknowledgement and permanent tribute to Third Level and its tradition of helping people in crisis to grow, change and thrive throughout the past 40 years and into the future," Piotrowski said.
For more information call 922-4802 or visit www.thirdlevel.org.
