project overview

EXTERIOR MURAL | THE FOUR WAY RESTAURANT

The Four Way Restaurant is located at 998 Mississippi Boulevard in South Memphis. Other nearby landmarks and institutions include Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Music Academy, LeMoyne-Owen College, Metropolitan Baptist Church and Second Congregational.

When Irene and Clint Cleaves opened the Four Way Grill – now the Four Way Restaurant – in 1946, their dream was to serve the best soul food in Memphis. It is unlikely they ever imagined the lasting legacy the Four Way would come to have in their community and the world.

In the early 1960s, the Four Way was one of a few places in Memphis where Black and white diners regularly sat together. Later, the restaurant became a home for leaders of the civil rights movement, as well as musicians on break from recording at Stax Records and families after church from the nearby Metropolitan Baptist and Second Congregational churches.

Artist Danielle Sierra leads her team in prepping the wall for accurate measurements.

““As a finalist, I dug even deeper. I asked Mrs. Patrice ‘What do you want on the wall? What do you want to see every day? And what do you want it to represent?’””

— Danielle Sierra

The new mural is a tribute to the community legacy, historical significance and the mouth-watering, awe-inspiring cuisine at the Four Way restaurant. As for the concept, it’s inspired by a timeline design. “You have Mrs. Cleaves, The Bates, and Mrs. Patrice,” Danielle explains. “The first circle touches the last circle in a cohesive timeline. I chose circles because they’re never-ending and continuous, just like the legacy of the Four Way.

Mrs. Patrice, as she prefers to be called, also hopes the artwork will bring renewed attention to the business in hard times. As for the design, she says “Everyone loves it, they’ve been very positive about it, saying that it’s inspiring.”

“It took me a minute to accept that my face would be on the side of the building,” she laughs. But I’m adjusting to it, and it’s nice. I think the artist did an exceptional job.”

— Patrice Bates Thompson

Owner Patrice Bates Thompson admires the completed mural.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

View fullsize

Danielle Sierra, Artist

Danielle Sierra

Danielle grew up a California girl, born and raised in Avenal, but eventually moved to Fresno to receive her BSA in Studio Painting. She became heavily involved with the creative culture there but shied away from murals. In 2018 Danielle became one of UAC’s District Mural Program artists, which allowed her to embrace her immense talent for large-scale projects through the completion of The Bickford Community Center mural.

In asking what inspired her to become an artist she reminded us of how powerful influence is in crafting our lives, for her father largely influenced her desire to be an artist. She recanted a delightful story about him carving a monkey from a peach pit, sparking a lifelong love and devotion to her craft.

Sierra’s art is divinely inspired and is her offering unto God, His creations, and ultimately His love towards us. It’s a testimony to the gifts and talents we are all bestowed.

story and quotes courtesy of @ilovememphisblog; read the full story here.