Emily Budd & Emilee Hudson

Photographers record the street's transformation.

By Sharon Gadient

Assistant professor of art & art history, Rebecca Miller started a mission to document the renovation of Springfield's Commercial Street. Once a month, Miller and two of her students, Emily Budd and Emilee Hudson, Fine Arts majors, head to Commercial Street with their cameras and artistic eyes to capture the changes on Commercial Street.

The idea blossomed when Jim Murrow, associate professor of business administration and economics, asked how Drury art students could become involved in the restoration of Commercial Street.

“I thought it would be great to involve our students in photographically documenting the changes that are taking place,” says Miller, “Jim liked the idea and talked to UDA (Urban District Alliance) about the possibilities for us to gain access to buildings.”

Miller and her students led me on a guided tour of the building that had at one time housed The Victory Mission. Beyond the forbidding “No Trespassing” signs, behind the tarpaulin and plyboard-covered windows and faded façade was an interior completely bare but full of promise for any vivid imagination.

“The ground level will probably be stores,” says Miller, “and the upper floors will be loft apartments.”

Murrow, who owns the buildings, has said he's open to stores, or any other venture, occupying the space.

As well as being a lot of fun, Miller sees this project extending long term and contributing to the city's richness. She says that the pictures will likely be used by the Urban District Alliance as an archive of the street's history.

Not only does the project document the revival of a once-bustling part of Springfield, but Miller and her students express the hope that it will also renovate the common perceptions of Commercial Street that have permeated the public mind for so long.

“There tends to be negative connotations with that area that need to be changed in order for it to flourish,” observes Miller.

“I think that will be one of the goals of this project, changing the stigma that surrounds Commercial Street,” adds Emily Budd.

As well as being a member of the Urban District Alliance, Murrow owns the old Victory Mission building on 205 E. Commercial St.

“The reality is that the street is better patrolled and safer than most places in the city,” says Murrow. “As we do this, the diversity of the street becomes the familiar and that eliminates unrealistic stereotypes for the university community and the citizens of the street.”

Miller notes that Murrow has played an integral part in the project, and she expresses appreciation for his constant support.

“Simply giving students the storefront windows of his building to put their work in has been amazing,” Miller says. “Giving art students a free place to promote their works does wonders for their sense of self and creative ideas.”

On Sept. 26, the students started their own art exhibit in the storefront window of Murrow's building: “It shows works by several photography students – primarily with an October/fall theme,” says Emilee Hudson.

Slowly but surely, Commercial Street is coming back to vibrant life. Through it all, Miller and her students will be there to document the transformation.