In January 2019, the Nunda community was invited to take part in the Livingston County Inspirations Trail, a 90-mile self-guided tour through 9 downtown districts to be launched in May 2020. All installations are to incorporate an uplifting word or message. The primary works of art will be murals or sculptures that could be permanent installations in the downtown. In addition, there will be a minimum of 10 storefront displays created with the same theme of "inspirations". These installations could be done by amateurs, school groups, or the businesses owners themselves. The Metal Trades class at GVEP plans to create one bench per downtown! The mission of this project is to:
1. Build community pride and sense of place
2. Cross promote the Villages and downtown businesses within the county
3. Promote the Livingston County downtowns outside our region
4. Inspire people!
In February, Louise Wadsworth, Downtown Coordinator, Livingston County Economic Development initiated efforts to form a Nunda Public Art Committee. She asked for participation from: the village and town boards, building and business owners, the library, the Nunda Historical Society, the local school (art teachers), and any interested members of the Nunda community. The mission of the committee is to:
1. Inventory possible sites for public art installations (and procure appropriate permissions)
2. Curate/select artwork that keeps in mind the character, culture and/or history of the community
3. Act as the local liaison for the Inspirations Trail event
Interested Nunda residents participated in seven committee meetings between February and December at the Nunda Historical Society. Attendance at early meetings suffered because of snow but, by May, we had identified several locations for murals, themes for the artwork, discussed potential sculptures and suggested bench designs. We also thought we had identified two artists for a set of murals, with one to serve as Artistic Manager of the Project. However, communications broke down and, in August, we discovered that we did not have artists.
Meanwhile, an application for partial funding for two murals, submitted to Livingston County Economic Development by the Village of Nunda, resulted in a 2019 Façade Grant of $2,000. To make use of this grant, matching funds and additional donations needed to be raised and the murals needed to be completed no later than December 2019. In mid-September we were most fortunate that John Gordinier and Don Ho**er agreed to tackle painting two 10’ x 11’ murals over the next three months and that timely donations provided the required match and covered additional expenses.
The mural project calls for 11 Chronological Murals, each 10’x11’, depicting the rich history of the Nunda Area. These are to be mounted on the former Foote Company building, now Seating, Inc., at 60 N State Street in Nunda. Murals #6 and #7 were completed in December 2019 and plans call for the remaining murals to be completed over the next two years. This project is part of the Livingston County Inspirations Trail, sponsored by Livingston County Department of Economic Development and discussed above.
John Gordinier is completing historical research and designs/sketches for the panels, as well as also being one of two artists on this project. Don Ho**er, owner/operator of Don’s Brush Art & Vinyl Effects on East Street in Nunda, is the second artist on this project. “I'm an old oil painter and Don's a sign painter,” said Gordinier. “When we merge, we actually have a third painter.” A tentative plan for the murals has been approved and every attempt is being made to guarantee historical accuracy. A very special THANK YOU to these two talented Nunda artists!
In addition to the original $2,000 grant mentioned above, the Nunda Public Art Mural Project also received a $1,500 grant from Once Again Nut Butter and is receiving a 2020 GVCA Decentralization Grant of $3,075, resulting in total grant funding of $6,575. We hope to also receive a 2020 First Impressions Grant of $5K from Livingston County Economic Development. Applications for these grants have been completed by Mayor Jack Morgan and submitted through the Village of Nunda. Thanks to Livingston County Economic Development, GVCA, and Once Again Nut Butter for making these grants available and to Jack and the Nunda Village Board for their essential contributions to the Nunda Public Art Mural Project.
Early generous donations of $3,600 helped with the first two murals but additional donations are needed in order to obtain matching funds to qualify for grants and purchase needed supplies for our artists. A “Go Fund Me” site has been created to assist in this effort.
To go to our "Go Fund Me" site just click HERE
A special Thank You also to the Trinity Church of Nunda for serving as the nonprofit sponsor for the Nunda Public Art Project and to Jack Morgan for serving as Financial Administrator. Donations may be sent directly by check to Trinity Church of Nunda (write Mural Project in memo line) and send to: Trinity Church of Nunda, Attn: Treasurer, PO Box 15, Nunda, NY 14517.
Additional “Thank-You’s” for help with the Mural Project include:
· Nunda Historical Society for assistance with research needed for the artwork
· Doug & Judy Hart and Seating, Inc. for providing the display area
· Dana Russell, Nunda Lumber, Aaron Sonnleitner and the Modern Home Center for help with the murals and/or preparation of the artistic medium.
· Darren Snyder, Dana Russell and Nunda Lumber, and the Village DPW for installation of the murals.
· Gary Nageldinger and M&T Bank for creating a special account for this project
· Louise Wadsworth, Don Wilcox, Jessica Wilcox, and Jack Morgan for their work on the “Go Fund Me” site
· All donors to this project and those who are helping to promote our “Go Fund Me” site.
· Louise Wadsworth for her unflagging support and advice.
· And, any participants who were omitted above or accidentally left off this list
The Nunda Public Art Committee will be meeting in the coming months to monitor the mural project, consider other permanent installments such as benches and sculptures, and to plan for the temporary store front “inspirational” displays needed for the May 2020 opening of the Inspirations Trail. We welcome any interested Nunda residents to join us. Just watch for our meetings that will be posted on this page and plan to join us.
The Nunda Public Art Committee: John Gordinier, Don Ho**er, Rhonda Howard, Jack Morgan, Jackie Morgan, Alex Pierce, Patty Piper, Joan Schumaker, Merilee Walker, Pam Washington, Isabelle Weir, Donald Wilcox
Advisor: Louise Wadsworth, Downtown Coordinator, Livingston County Economic Development
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For questions, please contact: [email protected]
by Joan Schumaker, January 13, 2020
