The “Toledo Loves Love” mural, located Downtown at the corner of Adams and 13th streets, was painted in 2012 and achieved immediate star status. It is often featured in articles and on TV, and people seeking a romantic backdrop regularly frequent the site for photos. Wedding parties have even been known to stop by for an eternal scrapbook keepsake.
Like any work of art, it’s open to individual interpretation and it is easy to catch symbol-itis there, finding different meanings in just about every brushstroke. But in one simple estimation, the wall depicts something broad: a message that Toledo does indeed love love.
We like good things, and doing good for one another.
Who doesn’t?
Like any family, we citizens have our imperfections. A holiday gathering, for example, doesn’t make those go away, but it helps us celebrate our family and the good times together. It gives us a moment to stop and think, “Hey, life isn’t perfect, but I love this family despite our flaws.”
Maybe over time we can work together and our flaws might lessen or even disappear.
Toledo Free Press is a newspaper. It’s our job to report the news, not create it. But positive things like the “Toledo Loves Love” mural are happening all over Toledo; we just rarely hear about them. The police officer involved in a standoff is more exciting to watch than the one who speaks to first-graders about safety. We get that. But there are plenty of times when a train merely rolling down the track is more majestic, thrilling and idealistic than a train wreck. Those noble trains modestly doing their thing are all over — we just have to find them.
That’s going to be our job in a new monthly series during the next year, as we highlight local citizens and groups doing selfless deeds for our city. Expect to see a series of inspiring stories that celebrate all things good in Toledo. We start on page 21 this week in East Toledo with the efforts of LeSo Gallery.
Toledo Free Press columnist Jeremy Baumhower recently coined the term “Toledo Tough.”
Perhaps that says it best, because we all know that love involves some measure of firmness, compassion and action.
We’re already a good family, but so many unsung citizens make it great. Let’s talk about them for a change.
Tom Konecny is associate editor of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tkonecny@toledofreepress.com.
