TheBurg

After missing its previous mural for the last several years, the Mulberry Street Bridge is once again alive with a vibrant new mural celebrating the life of our community. Stretching over 230 feet in length, it is Harrisburg's largest mural project to date. It features over a dozen faces of real friends and neighbors of Allison Hill, connected with floral elements and color. Led by New York City-based muralist (and Harrisburg native) Ian Potter, the apprenticeship project also involved the talents of Sharnee Burnett, Kwatei Hector, Bryan Hickman and Jonathan Molina to paint the portraits, with over 100 volunteers helping to fill in the colors. "We have been planning and anticipating this project for years," said Meg Caruso, Sprocket co-founder and president. "Not only is it our most ambitious project ever, but it's ground-breaking in many ways— using a unique artistic method and process. We are thrilled to welcome Ian Potter back to Harrisburg, in what feels like a full- circle collaboration, as he mentors several Harrisburg-based artists as apprentices." Potter used an electro pounce machine, similar to an electric pen, to create a stencil for the metal bridge's mural artwork. No Harrisburg murals have ever been created using this method. "Growing up in Harrisburg in the 90s, I didn't see the presence of a mural community, so it's really cool to come back home and have the opportunity to work with some of the younger generation—giving them some of the literal as well as figurative tools," said Ian Potter, whose employer Colossal Media donated paint for the project. Professionally, Potter got his start creating sets and scenic THE MULBERRY STREET BRIDGE HAS A MURAL, AGAIN! design for the city's Gamut eatre. e Mulberry Street Bridge Mural is sponsored by M&T Bank, the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, and grant funding from e Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC). "e new mural for the Mulberry Street Bridge between downtown Harrisburg and South Allison Hill will be an amazing addition to our city and that important thoroughfare," said Brittany Brock, M&T Bank Vice President and Business Banking Senior Relationship Manager in Harrisburg. "I drive across the bridge many times a week, and I am thrilled to see the vibrant colors and montage of people bring the walkway to life. M&T's contribution for the Mulberry Street Bridge mural is another way we're showing our support for efforts to improve the communities where we live and work." Photo by Michael Yatsko

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