Finding Beauty on “the Ugliest Street in America”

Former Tucson mayor Lew Davis once called Speedway Boulevard the ugliest street in America. When LIFE magazine picked up the title a handful of years later, it stuck. Jodie Lewers Chertudi, one of six artists who participated in the Speedway Corridor Mural Project in collaboration with Alley Cat Murals and the U of A Poetry Center, explores the creative process of transforming a forgotten urban space into a public art gallery while also demonstrating how the magic of collaboration and community can flourish in places no one would expect.

Jodie Lewers Chertudi is a multi-talented, detail-oriented visual artist with more than 20 years of experience working in graphic design. Growing up in rural Pinal County, much of her art inspiration was found in nature while roaming the desert. She fantasized about big city life and has a huge crush on graffiti art, surrealism, and abstract paintings. Jodie attended Salpointe Catholic High School, played basketball at Pima Community College, and graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Visual Communication. Before starting her own graphic design business in 2010, she served as Art Director at The Nordensson Group, where she oversaw design projects from concept through production. Her expertise spans mural painting to logos, brand development, annual reports, brochures, signage, and digital graphics. Jodie is never happier than when she is bringing an idea to life while rocking out to her eclectic music library.