If you've ever driven on U.S. 50/Sixth Street just west of downtown Cincinnati, you've probably seen a very prominent mural of a pig with slight smirk on its face.
The mural is rather large in size, completely covering the façade of a six-story former jail on the south side of the roadway in Queensgate. The tips of the pig's ears protrude from the top of the building, giving the mural a 3D gimmick.
Truth be told, pig-themed murals and statues are not uncommon around Cincinnati, a city historically dubbed as "Porkopolis." But what's the story behind this specific pig, and why is it there?
Here is what we know.
Question: Who is the pig in the mural seen from Sixth Street, and why is it there?
LINNcinnati, created by Arrand Development, currently occupies the former Queensgate Correctional Facility at 516 Linn St. The project has
repurposed the building into a creative hub, renting out studio and exhibit spaces to local artists and entrepreneurs.
As a way to engage with the community and become a part of the public art scene, LINNcinnnati aimed to turn its blank, north-facing brick wall into a landmark. They landed on a portrait of Ginger featured in "Chattel," a photo series by Kevin Horan that utilized a style of classical portraiture with the charm of several farm animals.
Ginger was a rescue pig, according to Arrand Development co-founder Andrew Bandy. Horan's photo captures her with a sly grin and a playful side-eye stare. LINNcinnati's website says her look earned her nicknames like the "Mona Lisa of pigs" and "Cincinnati’s unofficial porcine mascot."
Ginger's grin "sparks curiosity and reflects Cincinnati’s history as 'Porkopolis,'" LINNcinnati's website says, adding that she "embodies reinvention, humor, and cleverness."
AGAR, the agency behind Blink Cincinnati, coordinated the painting Horan's photo on the building's façade and brought the mural to life. The mural stayed true to Horan's original work, as Ginger – painted with only muted tones – is plastered atop a solid dark background.
"We do feel like it's something that helps promote our building, but also helps promote Cincinnati," Bandy said "It's really not all about us, but it's about the personality of Ginger."
Have a question for Just Askin'? Email us.
The Just Askin' series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, except maybe Google.
Do you have a question you want answered? Send it to us at justaskin@enquirer.com, ideally with "Just Askin'" in the subject line.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is the pig in the mural seen from US 50/Sixth Street? Just Askin'
