What’s the most exciting fall event North of New Haven and South of Boston? It’s an historic festival years in the making and coming right to downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck this September! If you enjoy art, history, music, food and drink, then you have many people to thank for this upcoming extravaganza of beauty, fun, and local pride, for it was truly a group effort, years in the making.
I was fortunate enough to meet with Jean Gagnier and Fred Paretta, the respective vice-chair and the marketing committee co-chair of the Bricks and Murals Festival, although they both wear many other hats within the group and beyond it. They also sang the praises of Wendy Brown of Brown Group Reality, Tim and Erika from Wake Up Waggin, and Colin Bennet of the Malted Barley as essential members of the crew, and Cam Bortz as another driving force behind the project, since he’s been creating murals out in the midwest for 20 years and knows the ins and outs of this sort of engagement.
Two towns, two states, one amazing community and downtown experience
Bringing the festival to downtown Westerly was brought up about five years ago by Jean, but the idea received a tepid response at the time. It was brought up again in 2015, and at last the timing was right and the enthusiasm was there. After presenting a PowerPoint at the Westerly Library and ensuring that all of the regulatory measures were in place, a team began to meet every Thursday evening to start the challenging planning process.
“This has already brought people together in a cross-generational, cross-discipline way,” Jean shared. “We have such a great team with amazing energy, and we’ve shared many milestones together over the past year and a half.”
Festivals of this nature have been happening all over the country for decades, but this is the first time it’s happening in two towns and two states at once. “Our slogan should be ‘We Share,” Jean laughed, referring to how well Westerly and Pawcatuck seamlessly share a business association, a chamber of commerce, and downtown area. Fred agreed, adding that he believes now is “a good time to unite.”
Jean and Fred both feel that the timing is perfect, given all of the recent progress made in the area in terms of arts, culture, and business downtown. “After living through the ghost town years and seeing everything that’s been happening recently, this festival is icing on the cake,” Jean said.
Mural designers are called Walldogs and are their mural’s Project Leader, in charge of overseeing the collaborative painting efforts done by friends, family, and community members. Since the host Project Leader is Cam, he got to cherry pick his team of 15 Walldogs from people he had worked with previously. Some are crossing the nation (Oregon, California), national borders (Canada), and even oceans (Germany), while others are more local, like the folks of Providence Painted Signs.
The most local artist to participate is John Tedeschi, head of the Art Department for Westerly High School, who has designed the Italian heritage mural. The mural is being co-led by veteran Walldog Nancy Bennet, and some of John’s students from Westerly High School will be helping to paint it.
Fred said that the response from businesses has been overwhelmingly positive, although there were a few questions at the outset of the proposal, laughing about how the French initially resisted the Eifel Tower. “But the mural designs are of such high quality that they sealed the deal,” he explained, and they took it all from an abstract concept to an exciting reality.”
All of the murals are historic and meant to bring out the pride of what’s been done here in town, all of the achievements of our people, all of the amazing events and occurrences that have taken place here.”
A football rivalry over 100 years old
The long term effects of this include growth for businesses and helping to make our downtown a destination in and of itself rather than just some place to go when you’re done with the beach, and there are plans for there to be a walking tour of the murals eventually as well.
Jean believes that “this will help set us apart 365 days a year, not just during the summer tourism season. It’s an organic, deeply rooted plan for economic development.”
Be sure to join in on the beauty and the fun beginning September 13th – that’s the night when the murals will be projected onto their walls and you can lend a hand tracing their outlines with Sharpies! The painting begins the following day, but bring your appetite and check out the food stroll as well.
With music, rides, raffles, children’s programs, and art auctions featuring original pieces by the actual Walldogs themselves, this is truly a unique event no one should miss.
