Township Of Belleville: Town Hall Paintings Declare Belleville's Support For The People Of Ukraine

Press release from the Township of Belleville:

March 04, 2022

Photo credit Belleville Township: Mayor Michael Melham and artist Athena Zhe, a Ukrainian-born artist, in front of a series of paintings that have been hung in Town Hall.

Belleville stands with the people of Ukraine.

That’s the message behind a series of paintings that have been hung near the entryway to Town Hall.

The works were painted in the national colors of blue and yellow and carry slogans such as “Defend Democracy,” “No War” and, simply yet pointedly, “Freedom.”

Some are even written in Ukranian.

They are the work of Belleville artist Athena Zhe, a Ukranian native.

In all, more than two dozen paintings have been hung in Town Hall.

Zhe also joined Mayor Michael Melham in unfurling a large Ukranian flag from the second story window outside the mayor’s office.

“Make no mistake: Belleville stands with Ukraine and against this incursion into a free, democratic country,” Mayor Michael Melham said. “These paintings convey the thoughts and words we hold in our hearts at this time: hope, resistance, freedom, love, peace.”

Zhe has become an essential part of the community over the past few years, an artist-in-residence of sorts who has worked with everyone from the Township’s Green Team to Belleville High School students on various murals around town.

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Photo credit Belleville Township: Mayor Michael Melham in front of a series of paintings created by Belleville resident and Ukraine native Athena Zhe.

Photo credit Belleville Township: Mayor Michael Melham, with help from Ukraine-born artist Athena Zhe, unfurls a Ukrainian flag at Town Hall.

This press release was produced by the Township of Belleville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.