WESTFIELD-Two city women have been chosen as muralists for a unique “place-making project” to beautify two utility boxes in the Gaslight District.
Following a call for art from the nonprofit Westfield on Weekends (WOW) in May, Morgan Sanders and Emily Colby were selected for their proposed murals, according to Morgan Drewniany, coordinator of the utility boxes project that is aimed to infuse the streetscape with accessible art.
This is one of two murals chosen to beautify the Gaslight District.
The theme for artists was “the history and future of Westfield,” piggybacking on the upcoming 350th anniversary of the city, added Drewniany.
Starting on Saturday, June 30, Sanders will start her acrylic painting mural at noon on the utility box in front of the multi-modal PVTA station. Sanders anticipates that her mural should take about four hours to complete.
“Since I was in elementary school at Munger Hill, I have loved art classes,” said Sanders, who will be a junior this fall at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. She is majoring in art and psychology. “When I saw this utility box contest I was interested because it would allow me to leave my mark on Westfield.”
Sanders said her mural will explore the landscapes of Westfield including the Clock Tower and the green bridges, with the mountains as a backdrop. Also highlighted will be the gazebo at Park Square that includes a microphone – signifying the summer open mic nights.
“Even though Westfield is a large city, I still think of it as a close-knit community that has a unique history,” said Sanders.
Sanders love of art followed her through her North Middle School and Westfield High School days.
“My love of art has also extended to doing face paintings for the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, as well as other art projects,” said Sanders, adding she hopes to finish a special mural planned at the museum before she returns to college in the fall.
For Colby, art has also been a “major part” of her life since she was in preschool drawing every day during recess.
“I was always the kid who spent practically the whole day in the art room at school,” said Colby. “The Westfield public school art teachers, specifically Karen West and Ann Marie Picard, helped me develop and refine my art and build my confidence as an artist. I owe them a lot for the art background and overall personal strength I have today.”
Colby noted she designed the summer reading logo for the Westfield Athenaeum and a glass mosaic window for the newly renovated Boys & Girls Library where she works.
“Those are just a few big projects I’ve worked on but I’m always working on some sort of art project,” said Colby. “It could be as small as preparing 12 crafts for a story hour or to something as big as a giant ‘Very Hungry Caterpillar’ made using Eric Carle’s technique of painting sheets of tissue paper to use for decoration in the children’s library.”
Colby said her life “practically revolves” around her passion and love for art, adding, “it is definitely a dream of mine to make my own in the art community and make it a career.”
Colby produces some form of art every day, whether it’s drawing on her iPad, sketching in a journal, painting on canvas, or embroidering clothing.
Colby will be painting the utility box near Fast Feet on Tuesday, July 3, starting at 9 a.m. Colby also expects to have her mural done within four hours. Her design integrates Whip City icons including Stanley Park’s covered bridge and a black squirrel, as well as more modern additions like Circuit Coffee.
“She hopes her graphic style will be a sort of scavenger hunt for lifelong residents, and an educational tool to visitors,” said Drewniany.
Colby noted that art has always been a “staple” in her life.
“The idea of adding my art to the community that I grew up, a community full of artists and creative people, was beyond exciting to me,” said Colby. “Being able to showcase art in an area easily accessible to everyone is incredibly important to me because art is such a crucial part of living, and I had to see if I could help contribute in some way.”
Colby added that Westfield has been “home” for the majority of her life.
“It’s been a place where I have been able to experience life in all aspects, whether through the town or in my own house,” said Colby. “It’s where my friends and family are, and where I go to work every day. It is a community that grows and learns together, and I am grateful to be some part of it, whether it be a passerby walking downtown, or an artist, trying to contribute another part of the evolving face of the city.”
Area residents are invited to stop by during the mural process to take photos and ask questions, noted Drewniany.
“Programs to create non-conventional murals are not new,” said Drewniany. “Cities such as Boston, Northampton, and Springfield have all carried out similar beautification programs in their cities to great success.”
Drewniany added that WOW is funding this mural program through a Westfield Cultural Council grant.
