Carlos Hernandez Chavez, Artist, and Luis Cotto, City Councilman, could be found at the Capitol Avenue overpass Wednesday morning, checking out the whitewashed wall where a mural will be painted on Saturday by volunteers. Carlos had painted huge black swirls down the long stretch of concrete where railroad tracks and I-84 create a shaded and dingy-looking area. But this stretch of blight will be transformed this Saturday, June 20, when volunteers will paint a huge mural to create a Corridor of Hope.Organized by Leadership Greater Hartford, the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. event is open to volunteers of all ages and experience levels – learn more here.
Carlos Hernandez Chavez
The wall, looking west
Plans for the mural
I’m looking forward to checking it out with Meghan on Saturday morning! I hope I see some familiar faces from the community there! Peace.
Update: Because everything is so wet outside, the actual mural painting will be postponed to a later date. Volunteers can still meet at 30 Laurel Street from 8:30 to 12 to help with clearing up the mural area, but there will be no actual painting until later in the summer.
Sounds good. Can we get some pics once they become available?
Sure thing! I’m planning to write about the mural painting once it happens.
I would have loved it if some of our young artists around this area had been asked to design, and paint the mural. There is always some type of art activity going on in that area of Capitol Ave I have seen some out-of-sight graffiti painted over the years there. Sort of odd that people come in and paint the walls and its okay, the young paint and its painted over. Just a thought.
Three years ago I served as a History Day judge in Hartford. Several of the students created exhibits on tagging and graffiti. Their argument was that this was artwork and should be more respected. I’m certainly not a fan of people defacing building (especially historic ones) for the sake of destroying something. But I think there is something to what Richard is saying above.
In Arlington, VA the Parks Department has a 24 hour policy where all “artwork” gets painted over within 24 hours.
Richard and “more specific” – thanks for the comments. I will keep this in mind when I talk to the organizers of this mural project.
I agree that there is a lot of merit to engaging community members in this type of project, and when I spoke with Carlos and Luis, they said that a number of neighbors who passed by said they’d be interested in helping out. I know where you are coming from on your comments – the fact that when non-sanctioned art goes up in this area, it’s whitewashed over.
That said, I think that once this wall is painted, it is going to really improve this stretch of road. Already with the clean-up from the other week there is much less trash and hazardous debris for cyclists or pedestrians. (Although I saw that this morning someone dumped some furniture there).
It’s probably too optimistic to hope that a mural will prevent this kind of dumping.
Thanks Meghan! I’ve always been a big fan of outside art. New Britain has a bunch of outdoor murals and team up with CCSU/NBMAA to hold bus tours each year. Its a great way for the community to get involved and see what’s going on.
There’s a stretch of concrete wall in Windsor right underneath the railroad bridge on Palisado Avenue. Everyday I walk past this and think how awesome it would be to have the high school students paint a mural there. It’s sort of boring otherwise.
This sounds a lot like what’s going on with FNB.
If the state sanctions it (artwork, food) it’s okay, but if folks decide to do something spontaneously or on their own, it’s criminal.
Art is in the eye of the beholder…I’d rather see stencils and spray paint from unknowns then “established” and “approved” public art.
Helping out is fine but I was thinking along the lines of the young artists who live around the area doing the art, from start to finish. “Helping out” seems a bit demeaning. I would love to see all the young who have to hit and run be allowed to just show us what they can do.
Anyway the area does indeed look better. I do wonder who owns the area with the broken fence and all the dumping. Does it belong to the owners of the property where the factory burned down? Can we get a real secure fence maybe if there is no place to dump people won’t.
This might be an idea, at least as a goal to work towards (not on this scale of course):
http://www.harlemonestop.com/organization.php?id=556
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGoPmmjNURo
This artwork-in-quotes is a “historic” tourist attraction. Most important, it is attractive and historic to the neighborhood citizens (for some people that is not “they” it is “us”); not just tourists, the business class, agents of gentrification or absentee property owners who deface the spirit of community by holding potential public space hostage.
As I was driving by, I noticed the black outlines immediately and have enjoyed the progress since… I am very, very happy to see this creative project taking place. I would love to lend a volunteer hand, however, I have obligations for this Saturday. I may be available for future projects so please feel free to check out my website fineartpainting.net and contact me anytime!
CREATE something… it’s one of the noblest reasons for our existance!
Tao