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Phoenix artist Isaac Caruso is leading the project to replace an iconic central Phoenix mural and he invites the community to help this weekend.

The mural going up will replace “The Prayer of St. Francis,” a mural painted by Rose Johnson in 1998. Johnson’s mural was covered earlier this year.

The Civitan Foundation, a nonprofit that provides job training and employment for individuals with disabilities, owns the building that houses the mural and has sought community input for what will be painted in its place.

According to a press release the building will be the future home of a thrift store, coffee shop, art gallery and restaurant.

The foundation chose Caruso to paint the new mural, and he wants the community’s help in painting it.

“I think it’s important that people partake in the history that we make with these murals,” Caruso said. “Since it’s for the community, about the community I wanted it also to be by the community.”

The mural is located at 1546 E. Edgemont Ave in Phoenix’s Coronado neighborhood. Painting of the mural will take place 7-11 a.m. on May 7 and 8.

Snacks will be provided for those who help. Masks are required.

Previous coverage: Building owners announce what’s next after covering an iconic Phoenix mural with paint

Caruso’s work is familiar to Phoenix art lovers

Caruso has painted several murals in the Valley including a mural of the late city councilman Calvin Goode and the late basketball player Kobe Bryant.

Caruso has invited the community to help him paint murals before with a color-by-number process. He used that process to paint a mural of Martin Luther King Jr. in Scottsdale.

Elizabeth Montgomery is Arts and Culture Reporter for The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com. Reach her at [email protected] or 602-444-8764. Follow her on Twitter @emontnews. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

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