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Syracuse Receives $25,000 Grant for Asphalt Artwork City of Syracuse Receives $25,000 Grant for Asphalt Artwork

By Thomas Cook

Laura Thorne: YOU WANT TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT PEOPLE COME TO AND REALLY FEEL THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR AND THEY KNOW WHAT THIS PLACE IS ABOUT.”)

Thomas Cook: LAURA THORNE IS A CONSULTANT THAT WORKS WITH LOCAL ARTISTS. SHE SAYS SHE IS HAPPY TO HEAR THE CITY IS RECEIVING THE MONEY BECAUSE THE ARTWORK CAN DO SO MUCH GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY.

Thorne: THERE’S A BUZZ AROUND IT. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY ITS THERE, WHAT DOES IT MEAN, WHY’S IT GOING UP. BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES A PUBLIC ARTS PIECE IS SOMETHING YOU CAN REFLECT ON. IT MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. AND THEN PEOPLE WANT TO GO BY AND VISIT IT.”

Cook: ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS THORNE HAS IS, WHO WILL BE DOING THE PAINTING…. SHE SAYS CHOOSING LOCAL ARTISTS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY AND WHAT THE CITY REPRESENTS.

Thorne: AND WHEN YOU USE LOCAL ARTIST YOU’RE TELLING THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE VALUE YOU. ENOUGH TO PAY YOU AND TO PROMOTE IT. AND TO SAY HEY COME BE A PART OF SYRACUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE HERE.

Cook: AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY PLANS TO DO. THIS AREA RIGHT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL IS REALLY JUST AN UNUSED PARKING LOT. SO THE MONEY FROM THE GRANT WILL HELP TURN THIS INTO A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT COULD BE USED BY CITY RESIDENTS BUT THAT WOULD ALSO MEAN SO MUCH MORE.

Eric Ennis: WE DO SEVERAL FLAG RAISINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THERE WERE SEVERAL DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROTESTS. SO WE KNOW ITS AN
IMPORTANT AREA FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND ESPECIALLY TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

Cook: AND THAT’S WHY ENNIS SAYS IT WILL BE NECESSARY ONCE ONCE AGAIN TO GET THE PUBLIC INPUT… TO DECIDE NOT ONLY WHAT GOES IN THE SPACE, BUT WHO FROM THE AREA GETS TO ULITMATLEY DESIGN THE SAPCE.

Ennis: THAT’S GOING TO BE PART OF WORKING WITH LOCAL ARTIST AND WORKING WHAT IS THE COLOR SCHEME, WHAT’S DISPLAYED WITH THE PUBLIC ART. WE REALLY WANT IT TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

Syracuse, N.Y.  (NCC News) — Syracuse will soon be getting some new artwork in front of city hall. The city received a $25,000 grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative.

The mural will be part of a plan to turn the small parking lot in front of city hall into a community space.

Eric Ennis, Syracuse’s Director of Business Development, said the space can be used for more community engagement events.

“We do several flag raisings throughout the year,”  Ennis said. “There were several demonstrations and protests, so we know it’s an important area for the community.”

Syracuse City Hall
The site of the asphalt artwork in front of city hall.
© 2021 Thomas Cook

The project will consist of painting the asphalt while also putting planters to make the area more attractive to city residents.

Art consultant Laura Thorne said the opportunity for new art in the city is important. She said it is a great opportunity for local artists to work on the project.

“When you use local artists you’re telling those people that we value you enough to pay you and promote it,” Thorne said.

Ennis said the city will look to get input from the community over the next few months and then hopes to have the project in progress by the middle of next year.

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