The decorative elements in this mural reference an era in the history of the surrounding neighborhood. These 19th century ornamental motifs draw from Jacobean revival imagery and feature inventive, scrolling plant shapes which suggest a process of transformation. Such artistic innovations connect us at an intimate level, across cultures and through time.  Birth of Mirth celebrates this connection.

Funding for Vibrant Corridors, a city-wide effort to create murals in key underpasses and gateways around downtown Indianapolis, is provided in part by the Lilly Foundation and the Glick Fund, a fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, the Arts Council of Indianapolis, and Downtown Indy.

This mural was completed during the 2014 Lilly Global Day of Service with the help of more than 200 Lilly Employees.