Muralist Amanda Pullano creates a pop-up mural during the 2024 'Celebrate Shelton' festival.
SEYMOUR – The barren wall spanning the corner of Main and Broad streets could soon come alive with a colorful mural paying homage to the town’s history.
That’s according to Linda Bellavance, a member of the Seymour Culture and Arts Commission.
Bellavance brought the idea of having a mural painted on the blank wall to the Board of Selectpersons meeting on March 4. The board members gave their unanimous blessing to the commission to proceed with the project.
The mural is expected to cost about $8,000 total. Half of that amount comes from a $4,000 grant from the Valley Community Foundation. The commission plans to use $2,000 from its current budget, plus another $2,000 from next year’s budget, to fill the other half.
Bellavance said the commission for years has wanted to have a mural painted on the wall, which serves as a gateway to downtown Seymour. The wall – which is about 65 feet long and ranges in height from two to four feet – is located beyond a shady knoll where a blue “Welcome to the Town of Seymour” sign sits. It’s also the location of the commission’s “Adopt-a-Spot” area.
“The commission has wanted to do a mural in town for the past couple of years but due to costs, we have had to put it on the back burner,” Bellavance told the Valley Indy. Bellavance said the location for the mural is ideal.
“It’s a great location to put town pride on display,” Bellavance said. “I’ve seen murals in other towns and in other states, and when you see them, it makes such a difference and makes you smile.”
The commission will work with North Haven muralist and designer Amanda Pullano, owner of Peep Creative. She was recommended to the commission by Michael Skritic, owner of The Glass Source Studio and Gallery on Bank Street.
Bellavance said the commission met with Pullano to discuss her ideas and project costs and loved what they saw.
Pullano has created murals all over Connecticut and across the country. Her handiwork can be found at Quarry Walk in neighboring Oxford, where she designed and painted the mural found inside Haven Hot Chicken, as well as several pop art creations for Pawsome Pets Boarding Room in Branford. Pullano also painted a giant underwater scene filled with colorful mermaids, fish, a submarine and other sea creatures for the Mystic Hilton.
Bellavance said the approximate $8,000 price tag will include wall prep, materials and a protective coating for durability. She said the town’s public works crew recently power-washed the wall at no cost to the commission, removing dirt and mold, to set the stage for a perfect canvas.
The commission gave Pullano some ideas for the design, including a river running the length of the wall, with town landmarks and industries, a covered bridge, the town seal, a gazebo or waterfalls as possible images, using the town’s colors of blue and gold throughout.
“We are anxious to see what she (Pullano) comes up with,” Bellavance said.
Once a design is finalized by the commission, Bellavance said it will be presented to the Board of Selectpersons for final approval. The final design also needs approval from the state Department of Transportation, as the wall is owned by the state, Bellavance said. Bellavance said the commission has been in contact with the DOT, who approved the location last year for the project.
If all goes accordingly, Bellavance said Pullano can start the mural in late spring/early summer and have it completed sometime in June.
Pullano said she’s excited to get to work.
“I hope that the artwork will be a celebrated addition to the community,” Pullano said. “My aim is to create a vibrant and welcoming piece that will serve as a focal point for residents and visitors. Public art has the power to boost the public’s pride in their hometown and serve as a beautifying element for commuters passing through. Seymour is such a cute town, and I can’t wait to improve it even further with some color.”
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis said she welcomes the idea of sprucing up that corner of town.
“It’s a wonderful idea, I love it,” Drugonis said.
Selectman Pat Lombardi agreed.
“I lived here for 48 years, and that wall has been a complete eyesore,” Lombardi said. “Any improvements to the gateway to our community will be a great thing.”
