08/17/2020
FROM THE NEWSROOM: (PUTNAM) A MESSAGE FROM THE PUTNAM BUSINESS ASSOCIATION: When the town of Putnam placed 14 highway barriers down on Main Street to create outdoor dining spaces for two local restaurants as CT began to loosen it’s Covid restrictions, most people were too excited about the opportunity to eat out again to notice the ugly concrete blocks. However, artists tend to look at the world a little bit differently, and when the barriers were dropped on Main Street, a group of local artists saw a blank canvas. Out of this blank canvas, a community mural was born.
The mural was designed and facilitated by Artists for the Arts (A4A), a grassroots organization founded by 9 local artists out of a shared desire to create stronger connections between town decision makers and area artists, many of whom are struggling during the pandemic. Artists for the Arts understands the importance of the arts in building and maintaining a sustainable local economy and hopes to help keep Putnam thriving as an arts town.
A4A chose to create the community mural as their inaugural public project because it offered such a clear and obvious benefit for the town. Now, in the place of ugly cement barriers, there is a block-long work of art in the center of downtown Putnam that has immediately drawn visitors and inspired conversation and interaction. Additionally, as a community project, more than 50 community members who took part now feel an increased sense of pride and investment in their community. Lindsay Shaw Lehmann, a photography teacher at nearby Pomfret School, said “I was honored to be part of the Putnam mural project. When I learned about the project, I was excited that someone was bringing this idea to Putnam that would strengthen community spirit.”
The original idea for the mural was a garden of mandalas with two inspirational quotes woven through the circles. Dot Burnworth, owner of Sawmill Pottery, created the design to be symbolic of a community made of unique individuals that are each, in their own way, crucial to the greater whole. The “mandalas” quickly took on a life of their own as community members showed up to put their creative spin on the idea. In addition to traditional mandalas, there are flowers and monsters, rainbows and geometric designs—and even 3 dog portraits.
The town’s response to the mural has been overwhelmingly positive. Mayor Barney Seney said,“I can’t thank Dot and the local artists enough for coming up with such a fantastic idea! It really adds to our downtown and shows what talented artists we have in our area.” Sheila Frost, co-owner of the Courthouse Bar and Grille, one of the restaurants benefitting from the outdoor seating created by the barriers agrees. She said, “As a business owner, it is uplifting to see local artists come together to design vibrant and colorful creations. Patrons and passersby have expressed many positive comments and we are proud to tell them about our local art community. These projects encourage more art; in both a large and small capacity.”
Supplies for the mural were donated by Chace Building Supply, Aubuchon Hardware, Modern Lumber, Habitat for Humanity of Plainfield and Art Guild Northeast, along with donations by several individual community members. For more information about Artists for the Arts please visit their website www.artists4arts.org, find them on FaceBook at facebook.com/artists4thearts or send an email to [email protected]. If you would like to support their efforts and see more art in your communities, the group is seeking donations to help fund future community projects and other opportunities for artists.
