"Art in the Alleys" is a grassroots effort to beautify three high-traffic alleys in Riverwest. This past weekend, artists from many parts of the city started painting garage doors to visually improve the alleys, but also, to hopefully make the alleys safer.

"We want to transform, call attention and bring beauty to hidden and unexpected spaces where there's actually a lot going on, and sometimes it's hidden and unexpected," says Sura Faraj, one of the organizers for Art in the Alleys.

Local artists started last weekend and continue to paint this weekend, Sept. 27-28. The murals will be completed in time for Art Walk, Oct. 4-5.

Homeowners who have a garage, wall or fence in the 3000 alley of Holton / Booth, the 3000 alley of Booth / Pierce and the 2900 alley of Pierce / Fratney were invited to participate a couple of months ago. Interested parties were paired up with an artist who created a design that both of them found appealing.

Faraj says Art in the Alleys continues to welcome artists who want to paint garage doors this weekend.

"We want to transform our alleyways to art spaces. We want to build community and make these spaces safer," says Faraj.

Claudine Lienau, a participating homeowner who had her garage doors painted last year, saw positive results from the project.

"We used to get tagged on a regular basis. Since we have had our commissioned 'graffiti' we have not been tagged. In fact, I haven't seen as much tagging in our area of the neighborhood at all in the last year," says Lienau.

To find out more about Art in the Alleys, contact Sura Faraj at sura@suraforchange.com.