BY ANDREAS YILMA
CITIZENS NEWS
NAUGATUCK — Borough officials have given the final approval for the downtown art mural design as the Art Commission waits for the green light from the state to start painting.
The Board of Mayor and Burgesses unanimously approved to adopt the edited design as the final mural design for the intersection of Maple Street and Water Street.
The Art Commission has been working on a mural plan since April 2022. The borough board initially approved an agreement in January with RiseUp for Arts to design and paint a mural on the side wall of the Metro-North railroad tracks that cross at the intersection. The cost was not to exceed $30,000.
RiseUp for Arts is a nonprofit aimed at creating public art that is inclusive and accessible to anyone. The organization works with artists, individuals, businesses and communities on mural and peacemaking projects throughout the state. It has already completed over 250 mural and placemaking projects since 2015 in the state, according to its website.
The art commission’s vision was for the mural to depict the borough’s progression from its industrial heyday, including images of machinery making rubber, to its current state.
The mural’s imagery includes a paint brush, musical notes and various hands to represent different ethnic groups coming together in the shape of a heart to send a message of welcome, peace and joy.
Art Commission members also consulted with the Institute of American Studies out of Washington, Conn., to gather more information before the art commission decided for the art mural to depict Native Americans fishing in a river.
Burgesses said they liked it.
“I think this is a much better mural in the end result,” Neth-Kunin said.
Art Commission Co-Chair Francis Santana they will engage community participation in the mural painting.
Before that can happen, however, the Art Commission needs approval from the state Department of Transportation. Metro-North would also have to give an OK after DOT.
“We’re hopeful to get this up and running by the winter,” Santana said.
The painting itself should take three months or less, Santana said.
This won’t be the only mural project in the borough, as the Art Commission looks to spearhead another project downtown.
The borough recently acquired two downtown parcels under eminent domain: one lot at 30 Church St. and an adjacent vacant space to bolster public parking and ensure emergency fire access as part of an overarching downtown revitalization initiative.
These parcels span approximately 0.95 acres, encompassing a 12,000-square-foot commercial edifice presently used as office space. There are two tenants at the address including StayWell Health.
The walls in the parking lot area would be another proposed site for second mural project.
Santana said Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess asked the Art Commission to spearhead the second mural project.
The commission is now waiting for the Summer Concert Series to conclude at the end of August before it meets back up again September to begin moving forward. This mural project would be more independent without the need for an organization such as RiseUp for Arts.
“There will be other opportunities for the community as well,” Santana said.
Santana said it’s going to depend the on the community and artists to bring vibrancy to those walls.
“Something that we can actually design with the help of multiple local artists,” Santana said.
