That’s A Wrap! WALLTHERAPY July 2014

How can a blog capture all that has happened in the past 2 weeks?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, than what is the exchange rate of a mural 4 stories tall?

With the July 2014 WALLTHERAPY event finally wrapped, the cans of paint empty, and the artists already on to their next projects, the crew are left with a deafening quietness after the past week of excitement and creativity. But more importantly we are also left with over 15 unique and awe-inspiring murals placed all around the city of Rochester.

Seeing only half the artists as last year, this year’s July event was a much more intimate experience for all involved. A chance for all the crew to get to know the artists, and the artists more of a chance to learn about the city they are helping to heal.

The curatorial focus on this event was portraiture, and each artist brought their own unique style to the walls they were healing.

Click on any of the images to open a larger version in a new window.

The first to finish his mural was Sam Rodriguez, an artist who joined us from San Jose, CA. His brightly colored image of a female face and lettering was added right next to the Greenleaf Ave murals created during our event earlier this year, Writes of Spring. www.samrodriguezart.com
40 Greenleaf St. – https://goo.gl/maps/VnCWv
Photo by Tomas Flint

Next to the Rodriguez piece is a large and beautiful image of a woman, brought to you by artist Omen from Montreal, Canada. – www.omen514.com
40 Greenleaf St. – https://goo.gl/maps/VnCWv

Photo by Mark Deff

Jarus, coming down from Toronto, Canada, to paint not one but two stunning murals,finished his first south of the city at 390 Seward St. in the PLEX neighborhood, where the focus was of a woman and her feline companion, resting upon a couch shrouded in mist. – www.instagram.com/youngjarus
390 Seward st. – https://goo.gl/maps/vyDJe

Photo by Tomas Flint

The Susan B. Anthony area of Rochester is now home to the brightly stylized visage of Jimi Hendrix, offered by Baltimore’s ERNEST SHAW, JR. www.instagram.com/eshaw_art
53-59 King St. – https://goo.gl/maps/MEmKX

Photo by Lisa Barker

Local artist Caitlin Yarsky offered her amazing talent by creating a mural on Boulder Coffee on Alexander St. featuring one of Rochester familiar faces, Andy and his accordion. – www.caitlinyarsky.com
Boulder Coffee – 100 Alexander St. – https://goo.gl/maps/Om5k8

Photo by Helio Sun Photography

If you want to look at a mural and realize that best years of playful fun are ahead of us, then you’ll want to check out Elicser Elliot’s mural on Canal St off W. Main St. Elicser joined us last minute for a visit with Steve from Well and Good up in Toronto and cracked this gem out in about a day. – www.elicser.com

Photo by Mark Deff

Once you get a paint gun in the hands of OMEN, he will make short work of creating another stunning beauty. This massive mural can be seen out front of the Fedder Industrial Park on E. Main St.

Photo by Helio Sun Photography

From Reno, NV, OVERUNDER used the shapes of the natural world, and human form to create this masterpiece at Lake Ave and Latta Rd. www.erikburke.com
78 Latta Rd. – https://goo.gl/maps/R9L7l

Photo by Mark Deff

None of this year’s muralists managed to capture the true spirit of Rochester more than hometown hero John Perry. He created the iconic image of Armand from the great House of Guitars to greet those walking into the Rochester Public Market. www.pennylessandinsane.blogspot.com

Photo by Jason Wilder

Addison Karl made his way to Rochester all the way from Germany, leaving us with one of the largest murals of the entire project so far. 4 stories tall and brightly colored, the solemn and thought provoking look of this man from Brussels is one you will no doubt spent time admiring as you stand in the parking lot of the Fedder Industrial Park building. – www.idrawalot.com
Fedder Building – 1237 Main St E https://goo.gl/maps/dE3XC
Photo by Helio Sun Photography

NY City artist Alice Mizrachi created one of the longest murals of the year, with the help of over a dozen 5th-7th graders from Rochester Prep. Each child lent a hand to paint a part of the mural and its message that ‘Together We Stand in Peace’. – www.alicemizrachi.com
53-59 King St. – https://goo.gl/maps/MEmKX

Photo by Lisa Barker

For a captivating mural that offers a true sense of atmosphere, then you’ll have to look across the street from the Village Gate to see the eyes created by David Walker from the United Kingdom – www.artofdavidwalker.com
277 N. Goodman St. – https://goo.gl/maps/2oetM

Photo by Mark Deff

The next time you are questing for a coffee, make your way to Fuego Coffee, and check out the mural from local artist Shawnee Hill. The hauntingly beautiful woman shrouded in a galaxy will help you enjoy that delicious coffee that much more. – www.coroflot.com/shawneehill
167 Liberty Pole Way – https://goo.gl/maps/7dDqi

Photo by Helio Sun Photography

What might be one of the best pairings of building and artist, Alice Pasquini from Italy created a lovely portrait on the wall of Small World Books, owned by Rocco, also from Italy. – www.alicepasquini.com
Small World Books – 425 North St. – https://goo.gl/maps/xNr9Y
Photo by Mark Deff

And the final mural is a second one from Canadian artist Jarus. One of the old silos of the Beech Nut Factory has been emblazoned with a strikingly beautiful painting of a young brunette local. The detail in the fabric and expression has left everyone who’s seen it feeling quite impressed.
Fedder Building – Main St.
Photo by Tomas Flint

The WALLTHERAPY team would like to offer our sincere and heartfelt thank yous to those that helped make this a reality. Starting with the community, without your support we wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. It was your help that allowed us to raise over $35,000 on our Indiegogo campaign. And it’s the donation of your time and sharing of our links and photos to help raise awareness that has made this such a success.

To the artists, we are truly honored for what you have created here in our city. We hope that each mural will have a ripple effects of positive change throughout the city.

A thank you to the volunteers that came in early mornings, and stayed late into the evenings. To people that delivered the much needed cans of Montana spray paint and equally needed cups of coffee.

A thank you to the photographers and videographers who documented not just the images but the community responses and enjoyment. It’s these special moments that show the work we are doing is important.

A big thank you to our partners and sponsors Montana Cans, Graffmap, and Podio. They helped us pull off another successful event and help show the world where are our murals are!

And finally a special thank you to the business owners that donated their walls for our artists to create their work upon. For putting your trust in us and for allowing our team to help make this city better.

As the July 2014 WALLTHERAPY comes to a close we will leave you with this:

“WALLTHERAPY is like a big adoptive family full of love and creativity that makes me sad to leave. I loved the experience and love you guys! Until we meet again. #bittersweet”

These are the words from mural artist Omen that he shared with his Instagram followers upon leaving. We are so honored to know that our passion for healing a city with art can resonate with such talented and compassionate people as the artists that joined us for 2014.

Please continue to share the links and images of this years event! And look forward to coming events this August and Fall!
To learn more and to see photo albums from all of our events, please check out our Facebook Page :
http://www.facebook.com/walltherapyny

To see more images and videos from the event follow us on Instagram
http://www.instagram.com/walltherapyny

Or follow us on our twitter account.
http://www.twitter.com/walltherapyny

Thanks for another amazing year,
The WALLTHERAPY team!