I was in fact shocked at the $45,000 price cited for the creation of a mural in Turners Falls by contracting with Common Wealth Murals for a 3,200-square-foot artwork on the side of the Shea Theater. The theme of the mural is unknown, though the organization stated that it would fit thematically with the town (in the Montague Reporter, they said that they would work with the community on the theme).

They also said that bringing in high-quality artists would help bring in tourists to the area, suggesting that they would focus on recruiting artists from outside our community. Grrrrrr and Baaaaah!

I was producer and organizer for a mural of comparable size in Greenfield that graces the side of the building across the alley from Veterans Memorial Park with its beauty while commemorating the town’s history and resources. We were clear that we wanted to honor Greenfield in its theme but importantly, that we wanted to honor its location next to the Veterans’ Memorial.

The theme that we came up with, in our first painting in 1991, by agreement and respect for the Veterans Mall committee, was to honor those things in our history that we have cherished — be it in our collective memory or the present time. The original design was conceived by a friend of mine, Janet Braun-Reinitz, a renowned muralist from NYC, and it evolved with community suggestions as there were daily articles in the Recorder, a small model of the design was displayed in our library with a comment box, and a public hearing was held — that reportedly had the largest attendance of any hearing held before.

Nearly every suggestion was incorporated into the mural. The process was transparent and inclusive and ultimately approved by the townspeople.

We had but a small (for the scope of the project) Cultural Council grant … I am remembering something less than $1,000, and then we received contributions from paint suppliers, businesses and individuals who contributed both resources, materials (including use of the scaffolding) and hours of volunteer labor.

People were enthused to learn the skills of mural painting and ultimately, we were able to pull off the project for under $5,000. Contributors are noted in a box in the lower left side of the mural.

When, in 2017, because the original mural had faded, I proposed that we refurbish or redo its design, there was overwhelming support to keep the now beloved original design. However, with a similar request for public input, we incorporated a few new images (skateboarding, internet connectivity), reflective of the changes that have occurred over 25 years in the county. Again, the project was largely supported by individual contributions, including a grant from the Cultural Council, volunteer labor and a benefit graciously hosted by Hawks and Reed.

The total cost was in the ballpark of $7,000. The contributors for the upgrade are mentioned on the bottom right side of the mural.

Today, the mural, redone with paints that will not fade from ultraviolet light, shines brightly in our downtown. I ask why cannot folks in Montague re-create the process we followed in Greenfield — creating spirit and a community-inspired vision, while involving the vibrant spirit of the community and allowing so many to learn the art of painting outdoor murals, rather than outsourcing to a company outside of town and demanding thousands of dollars, and disrespecting the local artists we have?

I would be glad to talk more thoroughly about the process of creating a community mural if someone wants to take responsibility for the orchestration, saving the town oodles of money and creating an inspiring project that brings folks together while allowing them to learn a new skill. Feel free to contact me at rebecca_tippens@yahoo.com.

Rebecca Tippens lives in Colrain.

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