Visitors to the Maple City Fall Festival were treated to a new Main Street attraction, one that will brighten up Hornell’s downtown district for years to come.
A new mural, the city’s final piece of public art funded through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), has been completed on Pave Alley.
The mural features a picturesque painted scene accented with sculpted metal animals, creating a bright connection to nature in the heart of Hornell, noted the city in a release. The Pave Alley area, complete with benches and planters, offers a welcoming gathering space.
“Whether during the day or illuminated at night, the mural provides a beautiful backdrop for photos and a fun gathering place for our downtown,” stated the city.
The mural was designed and completed by artists Glenn Zweygardt and Christine Ehmann of Zweygardt Sculpture. The mural complements the nearby Archway installed in October 2024, which was the first piece of public art installed through the DRI.
Zweygardt also designed the Archway, along with “Homage to Gus,” a sculpture that was installed on Broadway last November.
“Many thanks to Glenn Zweygardt, Christine Ehmann, and their team for their work designing and creating the piece, as well as to Brian Tinker of Lion’s Will for the use of the wall for this project,” stated the city in a release.
Other public art pieces completed in Hornell
Two other public art pieces were installed on Main Street and at Union Square Park this summer.
The pieces were designed and installed by artist Sam Castner of Ironvine Studios, based in Dundee. The first sculpture, “Atlas Shrugged,” was placed in Union Square Park, while the second piece, “The Tracks of Hornell,” found its home on Main Street.
The city previously added a colorful sign near the entrance to Broadway Mall. Directional arrows − painted in an array of bright colors − point the way to eight famous American cities: New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Nashville, Dallas, Miami and Washington D.C.
The creations were funded through the Streetscapes, Alleyways, Wayfinding and Public Art project, part of Hornell’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
The project aims to beautify the downtown area and make it more accessible through sidewalk replacement, additional electric, public art installation, the addition of benches, lighting enhancements and tree plantings.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: New Pave Alley mural unveiled in downtown Hornell, a ‘beautiful backdrop for photos’
Reporting by The Spectator / The Evening Tribune
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