Springfield On The Move wants to make the mural on the Furman’s Building on Main Street in downtown Springfield permanent. Photo: PHOTO BY LEN EMERYPublished April 15, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Branding together Springfield group raising funds to keep logo mural permanent By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — Springfield On The Move has started a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to help pay for making the chalk mural on the side of the Furman’s Building permanent. So far, the Kickstarter campaign has raised 48 percent of its goal, said Peter Stearns of Springfield on the Move. Stearns said the effort had received commitments of $290, out of the goal of $600. “Forty-eight percent of our goal is going in the right direction,” he said Monday. The mural was made last Labor Day weekend by local artist Mona Frye, who was leading a group of children in activities during Market Madness. Frye said she had used the Springfield logo designed on behalf of Springfield On The Move a few years ago as part of the downtown’s “rebranding” effort. “I project it up on the wall, and told people and kids they could color in the lines,” said Frye, who said she had brought boxes of colorful chalk. She said the mural was part of the Kid’s Corner activities during the street fair, with younger kids using the chalk to color the driveway between the Furman’s Building and the Masonic Temple. “They got to color to their heart’s content. They had a ball,” she said. Stephen Greene of Chester, who owns both buildings, has given permission for the mural to be made permanent, said Stearns. Frye said she was busy painting kids’ faces that day, as well as watching people work on the mural. “There were a couple of high school students that took turns,” she said. She said she would be using acrylic paints to make the mural permanent, and that she had volunteers already to do the painting, including students at the Department of Corrections’ Community High School at the Springfield prison, community members, and adults from Turning Point. Frye said the volunteers are also helping complete the Community High School’s mural on a concrete retaining wall on Mineral Street. That mural includes images from around town, she said. Frye said she hoped to keep costs down for the mural. “I think we can pull together as a community, and donate,” she said. “I do it because I want to make Springfield pretty. I love to do art,” she said. “It’s really gratifying for all of us to work together on it,” she said. For those interested in making a donation, visit: http://kck.st/1gxEE2G
Why is this sign being promoted again? Haven't enough people voiced their displeasure about this sign and the scheme to preserve it? Springfield would be better served painting the town entirely red and painting the word "HELL" over the Springfield sign to welcome the arriving drug dealers similar to what Clint Eastwood had done in "High Plains Drifter".
ReplyDeleteThis really is a professional quality job. I think it's a shame to hide it on the side wall of a private building.
ReplyDeleteNo offense to the people who do all the hand-painted signs for this and that around town, but the amateur look doesn't really help the town. Maybe some of the signs around town could be upgraded by this artist?
Another "sign" of the desperation to cure what ails Springfield, but in the case of this severely ill patient the town should by now realize that another "pretty band aid" won't work.
ReplyDeleteThe $600 would be better applied to the town's road paving coffers!
The "cure" will come when people join together rather than cause division to establish unity. What have you done to improve our community? I'd love to shake your hand myself and thank you personally.
Delete