Tag Archives: Sprocket Mural Works

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

October 1, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Sprocket Mural Works’ latest mural at Anastacia’s Restaurant and Bar

Our October issue of TheBurg came out this week! Make sure you grab a copy, and don’t forget to catch up on this week’s local news, listed and linked, below.

An affordable housing development for seniors was approved by Harrisburg City Council this week, our reporting found. Bethel Village will be located at N. 6^th and Herr streets.

Bob’s Art Blog tells the story behind “Dramatis Personae,” a one-woman show photographed, mounted and directed by Carlisle photographer Nicole Dube. He also highlights artist Paul Flury’s plein air classes that take place in Negley Park.

The Brandywine Valley in Delaware has an interesting history and legacy that can now be toured. In our magazine story, read about all the best spots to visit on a trip.

It’s fall in Harrisburg, and TheBurg offers a smattering of fall-ish things to do around central PA, says our editor. He also reflects on the work that Sprocket Mural Works has done in the past months to beautify the city.

Harrisburg and Penn State will conduct free colorectal cancer screenings next week, our online story reported. According to Penn State, colorectal cancer cases are increasing in people younger than 50.

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra will open for its 2021-22 season, after going virtual last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read about what they have planned, in our magazine story.

Italian Lake in Harrisburg will open for fishing for a day, our online story reported. Instructors will teach kids the basics of fishing and let them try for themselves.

Lovedraft’s Brewing Co. recently opened a new location in Hampden Township, our magazine story reported. The unique, dark brewery, with a smaller micropub location in Harrisburg, cultivates a following comprised of people dedicated to art, culture and music

Nate Spriggs was appointed as Harrisburg’s new director of public works this week, our online story reported. Spriggs replaces Dave West, who is retiring.

Open Stage’s “White Rabbit, Red Rabbit” is hilarious, heartbreaking, disquieting, illuminating and absolutely transformative. But our theater reviewer can’t tell you anything about the plot. Find out why, here.

Sara Bozich is in full fall mode and has lots of ways for you to get into the spirit, as well. Her “Weekend Roundup” has everything from fall festivals to Oktoberfest celebrations.

Sprocket Mural Works celebrated the completion of its 50^th mural this week, our reporting found. The large-scale work of art at Anastacia’s Restaurant & Bar celebrates pets and their adopters.

Street paving began this week in Bellevue Park, as part of a plan to patch and repave several worn roads in Allison Hill, our reporting found.

Theatre Harrisburg announced Lorien Reese Mahay as its new executive director, effective Oct. 4, our reporting found. Mahay has over a decade of experience in theater management, education and fund development.

Village Artisans Gallery houses some of the best craftsmanship in central PA, our magazine story reported. It displays a wide selection of blown glass, pottery, turned wood, hand-woven apparel and jewelry, as well as illustrations, calligraphy and more.

Whit Waltman is a young, Harrisburg-based, art rock/indie rock band just beginning to find its way on the local music scene. In our magazine story, read about the friendship and music that define the band.

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Sprocket Mural Works marks 50th mural in Harrisburg

September 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

The new mural at Anastacia’s Restaurant & Bar

Sprocket Mural Works has hit a milestone, producing its 50th mural in Harrisburg in a large-scale work of art that celebrates pets and their adopters.

The 50th mural also emphasizes Harrisburg’s diversity during these final days of September’s Hispanic Heritage Month.

Sprocket’s 50th mural pairs an accomplished mural artist of Hispanic heritage—Justin Suarez of Rochester, N.Y.—with a mural site at Anastacia’s Restaurant & Bar, owned by Ricardo Suarez (no relation to Justin), which specializes in Puerto Rican cuisine.

The summer-long 2021 Harrisburg Mural Festival launched in May and has produced a handful of murals every month since. On the heels of the nonprofit’s largest mural project ever, covering one side of the Mulberry Street Bridge in murals, four additional murals are planned for this fall.

“All of this year’s murals collectively celebrate the city’s diversity in a beautiful way, including these final four murals,” said Meg Caruso, Sprocket’s president and co-founder. “This year’s festival features many artists of color, as well as subjects that speak to diverse neighborhoods that we surveyed, along the established and expanded Harrisburg Mural Trail, which is now more established in Allison Hill and stretches into Steelton and Penbrook.”

Caruso reflected on what the milestone 50th mural means to her personally.

“When I set out to create Sprocket, I couldn’t imagine that we’d reach our 50th mural in Harrisburg within seven years,” she said.

Including Sprocket’s murals produced in York, the total number of central PA murals is now around 75.

“It is extremely humbling, because none of it would have been possible without tremendous community support, sponsors, grants, and hundreds of generous donors and volunteers who believed in the vision of uplifting Harrisburg through art,” Caruso said.

Animal Adoptions, Captured in Art: 1535 N. 6th St.

Sprocket is collaborating with the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area to produce its 50th mural, now through Oct. 3, located at Anastacia’s Restaurant & Bar.

Mural artist Justin Suarez has painted hundreds of murals throughout the country—many of them focused on wildlife and nature scenes.

“To me, the way to convey the mission of the Humane Society is to show an adopted pet with its owner, to illustrate that special relationship,” said Suarez, who’s known for his vibrant use of color. “When people see the mural, it’s my hope that they’re able to perceive the feeling and emotion captured in the image.”

About 1,000 animal adoptions—including between 350 and 400 dogs—are facilitated through The Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area annually.

“The Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area is thrilled to bring awareness to the importance of animal adoptions through this community mural,” said Amanda Brunish of the Humane Society. “We assist over 10,000 animals a year through our residential care and adoption program, low-cost veterinary clinics, pet food bank, and counseling services. At any given time, there can be close to 500 animals under our care. Our mission is to build a better community for pets and people through compassion, protection, education, and collaboration.”

The mural project also “contributes towards community pride,” said Ricardo Suarez of Anastacia’s Restaurant & Bar.

“As a Latin American business within the community, it is excellent that both the artist and the model [in the mural] celebrates such diversity—especially during Hispanic Heritage Month,” he said. “As a result, it is rewarding to have such a visual representation of art within the city of Harrisburg.”

Celebrating Black Culture: 928 James St.

Beginning this weekend (Oct. 2 to 3), Sprocket launches a much-anticipated and thoughtfully planned mural project on the side of a James Street apartment building that faces the 3rd Street mural corridor.

“We are grateful to many community members who came together and formed a steering committee to oversee this vital mural project—artwork planned as an uplifting celebration of Harrisburg’s Black community and culture,” Caruso said.

Harrisburg-based artist Bryan “King Prolifik” Hickman, 31, is creating the mural after serving as a mentored artist under professional muralist Ian Potter on Sprocket’s Mulberry Street Bridge mural. Hickman described the opportunity to create the James Street mural as a dream project and “supreme honor.”

“A mural is the ultimate statement piece,” he said. “It’s a little scary but also rewarding.”

He described the mural design as “Afro-inspired,” depicting a Black woman who’s a friend and Harrisburg resident, and incorporating themes of African American strength, appreciation for youth, and the importance of education.

An aerial view of Sprocket’s completed mural on the Mulberry Street Bridge. Photo credit: Michael Yatsko

Allison Hill Landmark: 1260 Market St.

Beginning Oct. 8, Sprocket will return to Allison Hill to create a landmark mural, on the side of Pizza Boli’s, at the corner of 13th and Market streets, in partnership with corporate sponsor The GIANT Company.

“It’s a massive mural that will be like a beacon, welcoming people at an entrance to the vibrant Allison Hill neighborhood,” Caruso said.

The mural’s scene—children, flowers and color—were among the top themes requested by neighborhood residents. It’s being created by partners Katerina Santos and Juan Travieso, who create art together under the name TRATOS, based in Miami.

“At The GIANT Company, we’re committed to supporting and enhancing our community as we bring our purpose of connecting families for a better future to life, and our sponsorship of this Sprocket project is a symbol of that commitment,” said Aaysha Noor, who leads diversity, equity and inclusion at The GIANT Company. “We look forward to contributing to the beauty of Harrisburg and celebrating the city’s rich culture and diversity through art.”

TRATOS’ artists will lead a paint day with team members from the company contributing their brushstrokes.

The project is located across the street from Capital Area Head Start, site of a previous Sprocket mural project by artist Jacintha Clark that includes floral art covering the windows of a repurposed bank building.

Modern Mural Expands at Millworks: Sayford & 4th streets

A 2019 Harrisburg Mural Festival artist, Brandon Spicer-Crawley of the Philadelphia area, returns to Harrisburg during the second week of October to extend his contemporary mural on the Millworks Lumber Storage Building. Sprocket is proud to provide a platform for this talented and intellectually disabled artist, whose mural is sponsored by Pennsy Supply, Inc.

“Pennsy Supply, Inc. has been in the heart of Central Pennsylvania for 100 years. We believe that art is fundamental to our humanity to inspire us, foster creativity, and bring us all together—regardless of our differences,” said Christina Edgerton, company president. “We’re excited to be a part of supporting Brandon’s artistic journey and we’re proud to sponsor the beautification of the city that Pennsy Supply calls home.”

Upcoming Projects

Several additional murals are being planned with production dates to be determined: Two murals located at Strawberry Square, sponsored by nonprofit real estate development organization and longtime Sprocket supporter Harristown, and a mural at 3rd Street’s Carpets and Draperies Building, where renovations are underway.

Background

The mission of Sprocket Mural Works is to uplift Harrisburg through art. Sprocket Mural Works is a citywide mural project that works with neighborhoods, artists and organizations to create vibrant community murals across Harrisburg, with creative action serving as a catalyst for increased community pride and civic engagement in Harrisburg. The organization’s roots go back to 2014.

For more information, visit sprocketmuralworks.com, @sprocketmuralworks on Instagram and Facebook and @SprocketMurals on Twitter.

Portrait of the Community: Sprocket Mural Works’ largest project showcases Harrisburg residents, behind the brush and on the wall.

September 30, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Bottom, left: Ian Potter, Jonathan Molina, Kwatei Hector & Sharnee Burnett
Bottom, right: Bryan Hickman

Odds are, if you travel through Brooklyn, N.Y., you’ll see some of Harrisburg-native Ian Potter’s artwork—it’s hard to miss.

Although his name suggests a different type of art, Potter is a painter. Much of his time is spent on ladders, lifts and platforms against Brooklyn buildings. He works for Colossal Media, a mural company that hand paints advertisements for brands like Nike, Spotify, Amazon and Coca Cola.

Colossal is, as its name suggests, huge, and Potter is one of their top painters.

But before he was scaling walls in Brooklyn, assisting with the hundreds of murals that Colossal completes each year, Potter got his start at Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg.

This summer, he made the trip to Harrisburg to give back to the community that gave him his start. Potter, along with a team of local apprentices, painted Sprocket Mural Works’ largest mural yet, on the Mulberry Street Bridge in Harrisburg, as part of the 2021 Harrisburg Mural Festival.

While the mural itself is sprawling, the story of collaboration and education behind its creation may be even more inspiring.

Investing in Local

The Mulberry Street Bridge, which connects downtown Harrisburg to Allison Hill, once held a mural spanning 640 feet, picturing scenes of life in the city.

However, in 2014, PennDOT removed the mural to rehabilitate the bridge. Since then, the bridge has sat as an empty canvas—until this summer, when Sprocket got its hands on it.

Sprocket hopes it has brought life back to the bridge through a new mural recently completed, sponsored by M&T Bank and the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, with grant funding from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC).

The mural features larger-than-life portraits of actual Harrisburg residents amidst swirling colors. As cars drive by, they see an elderly woman, a mother and child, a smiling man, a woman with fiery red hair—all members of the community, maybe even a familiar face.

“We wanted to really re-create the beauty of that project,” said Meg Caruso, co-founder of Sprocket, referring to the previous mural that was on the bridge. “It’s definitely exciting because it’s our biggest project yet.”

But Caruso said that her favorite part of creating the mural was utilizing the talent of local artists who worked as apprentices under Potter’s guidance.

While apprentices Sharnee Burnett, Kwatei Hector, Bryan Hickman and Jonathan Molina all have experience in art, none have worked on large-scale murals, Caruso said.

“To have a mentor like Ian, it’s really valuable to their growth and to Harrisburg, really,” Caruso said. “It means that, for future projects, we can pull from more local artists.”

Kwatei “Q” Hector, an artist from Allison Hill, has been drawing since he was a kid and has held some exhibitions, but never worked on a mural project.

This summer, he participated in Sprocket’s planter painting project in Allison Hill. Recognizing his potential, Caruso offered him the apprenticeship with Potter.

Hector loved seeing how his painted planter positively impacted his neighborhood and couldn’t wait to be part of another beautification project, he said.

“I’m grateful they’re beautifying the city and letting me be a part of it,” he said. “It’s a blessing to me.”

Hector said that Potter has taught him techniques including using an electro pounce machine, a pen that burns tiny holes onto a large sheet of paper to create a stencil to use when creating the mural. He then learned about “pouncing,” in which an artist taps a bag of charcoal powder over the holes in the stencil to transfer the outline of an image onto a wall. This is the first time that Sprocket has used these methods for a mural in Harrisburg, Caruso said.

Potter has also coached Hector as he’s worked on painting the portraits of the residents.

“Ian has a really beautiful ability to teach,” Caruso said.

Homegrown

While Potter is a mentor to artists now, he remembers being an apprentice himself.

In the early 2000s, Gamut Theatre hired him out of college as an actor and set designer. He would, almost singlehandedly, design, build and paint sets for the theater that often features plays by William Shakespeare, among others.

Judd “Pop” Nicholson, the father of Gamut-co-founder Clark Nicholson, was Potter’s mentor at the theater. With his experience as an old-school sign painter, before vinyl billboards replaced hand-painted ads, Judd taught Potter how to paint lifelike scenery.

“If I would make a mistake, he would be like ‘don’t worry about it; no matter what anyone tells you, you can paint,’” Potter said. “It stuck with me and propels me forward. It just so happened that, years later, I would become the modern-day equivalent of a sign painter.”

Judd taught Potter the methodology of painting, but most importantly, Potter said, at Gamut, he learned how to have a strong work ethic.

It’s this idea that he tried to pass onto his apprentices with Sprocket.

“It’s so cool to bring back some of that skill and knowledge,” Potter said. “This project is about lifting up our local artists in Harrisburg.”

While Caruso said that Sprocket is always trying to find ways to use the talents of local artists for its projects, they’ve especially focused their efforts this year, she said. That has shown through projects like the planter painting in Allison Hill, a mural painted by Harrisburg artist Sarah Fogg in Penbrook and the Mulberry Street Bridge mural, among others.

“There’s so much value in supporting local,” Caruso said. “We want to support our local artists.”

To learn more about Sprocket Mural Works, visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

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October Editor’s Note

September 30, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

People often say that their favorite month is October.

Cool weather, Halloween, pumpkin spice everything. Sure, I get it.

Unfortunately, the month does quickly lead into the dark, cold and snow of winter, which is what knocks it down a notch or two in my book. Still, for beauty (the leaves!), comfort (sweater weather) and fun (when did Halloween turn into a month-long holiday?), it’s tough to beat.

Each October, TheBurg offers a smattering of fall-ish things to do around central PA. For some reason, autumn lends itself to a good day trip, so we tend to focus on places and events outside of the city, maybe while you’re out leaf-peeping or heading for that corn maze with the kids.

This month also wraps up our monthly stories on the 2021 Harrisburg Mural Festival, which we’ve been running since the June issue.

TheBurg has never before published a series of stories on a single topic for five straight months. However, we wanted to do so because we’re so impressed with Sprocket Mural Works and their dedication to the city and community.

Recently, a friend and I got into a discussion about developments around Harrisburg. He asked me what I thought was most encouraging, thinking that I would say this or that building proposal, since there are so many right now.

I told him that I was impressed not by a developer but by Sprocket. This group has taken it upon themselves to raise money for, plan and execute large-scale art projects throughout Harrisburg. In fact, they just celebrated their 50th Harrisburg-area mural.

As a result, over just a few short years, Harrisburg has become a city of lovely public art, a more beautiful place with a mural trail, art tours and a new tourist attraction. This has all been accomplished by a small core of dedicated volunteers who have donated their time and talents, without a profit motive, a paid staffer or the use of a single taxpayer dollar.

Now, that’s an impressive accomplishment.

Lawrance Binda
Co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Click here to read the digital version of our October issue.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 17, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Midtown Cinema announced a change of leadership this week.

As the summer transitions into the fall, changing leaves and temperatures are just around the corner. Many of this week’s stories fall under the theme of change, as well, whether it be around perspective, leadership or development in Harrisburg. Read all of our coverage, listed and linked, below.

Bob’s Art Blog highlights two art exhibits in Harrisburg with spiritual themes. St. Stephen’s Riverfront Gallery is showing “De-Colonizing Christ,” and artist Kelly Curran’s exhibit, entitled “Purify,” is on display at the Millworks.

Charlie DeBrunner, Harrisburg’s controller, said that the city should end the year with enough money in the bank to pay off its accumulated debt, our reporting found. Appearing before City Council this week, he told council members that his office projects a $34 million fund balance by year-end, which could be enough to pay off the city’s bonds, he said.

The Foundation for Enhancing Communities will celebrate its centennial this year by welcoming several awardees of a local scholarship back to Harrisburg to demonstrate musically how well they’ve used the money. They will put on a free concert this month, our magazine story reported.

“The Hand that Holds the Quill” is a play that puts the spotlight on Jacob Shallus, who penned the original copy of the U.S. Constitution. Our magazine article tells the story of how Mechanicsburg playwright Cindy Rock Dlugolecki found out that she is related to Shallus and decided to tell his story.

The Harrisburg Book Festival will return this year with in-person and virtual activities, our online story reported. From Oct. 6 to 10, Midtown Scholar Bookstore will host a discounted book sale, as well as virtual author events.

Harrisburg-area developers have proposed a five-story, mixed-use building for downtown Harrisburg, our online story reported. This would require demolition of two derelict structures now at 512-514 N. 2^nd St.

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse declared this week that he is running as a write-in candidate in the November general election, our online story reported. He stated that he decided to run for a third term, despite losing the Democratic primary in May, based on his track record of fiscal management and rebuilding the capacity of city government.

Harrisburg City Council passed a resolution that will begin the process of updating the city’s decades-old IT system, our reporting found. Over the next two years, Texas-based Tyler Technologies will phase in a new computer system.

Home sales in the Harrisburg area declined a bit in August, but prices increased considerably, our reporting found. Sales dropped to 810 housing units compared to 866 last year, but the median sales price rose by 9.3% to $235,000, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

Midtown Cinema has new oversight as former director Adam Porter has stepped down to focus on his business StartUp Harrisburg, our reporting found. Porter is replaced by Rachel Landon of Open Stage Theatre as the general manager and Stacey Werner as assistant manager.

Nyeusi Gallery opened this past weekend in Midtown Harrisburg. Our magazine article tells the story behind the gallery that seeks to showcase Black art.

Otto Banks, was named by Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse as the new economic development director, our online story reported. Banks, a former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official, ran for the Democratic nomination for mayor against Papenfuse in the primary election.

Sara Bozich released her Weekend Roundup that’s full of fall activities for those ready for the cooler season ahead.

Sprocket Mural Works recently finished creating a pocket park in Patrick Alley in Midtown Harrisburg. Our magazine story outlines this unique project, which included a bright, floral mural with an environmental message behind it.

Wanda Williams, Harrisburg’s Democratic nominee for mayor and City Council president, announced this week that she is gearing up her campaign for the election, our online story reported. Williams said she will re-initiate her campaign by “month’s end,” following a mourning period for her mother.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 10, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Sprocket Mural Works will hold mural tours as part of Gallery Walk.

Between Gallery Walk and Jazz Walk, it’s going to be an artsy weekend in Harrisburg. Before you lace up your walking shoes, read our latest local coverage, below.

The federal government put the Ronald Reagan building in downtown Harrisburg up for sale this week, our reporting found. General Services Administration wants to sell the building for at least $3 million as it nears completion of the new federal courthouse.

Gallery Walk is this weekend, and, in his magazine feature, our arts writer Bob has everything you need to know about it. In a separate blog post this past week, he also featured Mechanicsburg painter Gail Walden Coleman.

Harrisburg theaters have prepared for a new season, re-opening to live audiences after over a year of socially distanced performances. Our magazine story highlights what local theaters have planned.

The Herr Street underpass in Harrisburg was restored this summer to create a safer connection from downtown to Allison Hill, our reporting found. City officials cut the ribbon on the updated underpass on Wednesday.

Hispanic Heritage Month will kick off in Harrisburg next week with a festival in Allison Hill, our online story reported. The Latino Hispanic American Community Center will celebrate with music, dance and food.

Midtown Cinema is showing “The Lost Leonardo,” a show full of twists and turns about uncovering the “Salvator Mundi,” a painting by Leonardo DaVinci. Read our review of the film, here.

Narçisse Theatre Co. debuts “Rashōmon” this month, which dives into the reality of different perspectives in discovering truth. Our theater reviewer says, “mission accomplished” on making the audience think about deeper existential questions.

Open Stage presented its new show, “Every Brilliant Thing,” and our theater reviewer has the scoop. According to her, the emotional performance engages the audience and leaves them with a new understanding of depression and its effect on loved ones.

TheBurg Podcast brings together an ice skater, violinist and illustrator. How do all three have ties to Harrisburg? Find out, here.

Sara Bozich has plenty of events lined up for your weekend, especially geared towards the artsy and musically inclined. Find them, here.

Sprocket Mural Works is holding guided tours along the Harrisburg mural trail as part of the 2021 Gallery Walk this Sunday, our online story reported. Attendees can choose to walk the “3^rd Street route” or the “downtown route” to learn more about the works of art.

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Artsy Amble: Lace up your sneakers for a guided mural tour during Gallery Walk

September 7, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

These murals on N. 3rd Street will be part of Sprocket’s mural tour during Gallery Walk on Sunday.

You’ve heard about them, maybe you’ve seen some of them—and now you can learn about them.

This Sunday, Sprocket Mural Works will hold guided tours along the Harrisburg mural trail as part of the 2021 Gallery Walk.

“The tours are a fun chance to go even deeper and share some of the stories about the making of the murals,” said Karen Hendricks, spokesperson for Sprocket Mural Works, the nonprofit behind the proliferation of mural art in and around Harrisburg in recent years.

Participants will have a choice of two walking routes.

The “3^rd Street route” will focus on the 3^rd Street corridor in Midtown. The “downtown route” will send participants in the other direction, centered on the city’s central business district.

The 3^rd Street route will leave on the hour, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and the downtown route will depart on the half hour, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Each tour will feature 10 to 12 murals, led by four volunteer tour guides.

“Each guide has a unique connection to Sprocket, which means each tour will be slightly different in terms of content and, of course, each tour will be customized based on questions we receive from tour-goers,” Hendricks said.

All groups will gather at the foot of the state Capitol steps at N. 3^rd and State streets before heading off on their respective walking tours, which will average about one mile in total distance.

Each hour-long tour is capped at 15 people, with priority given to those who pre-register. A $15 suggested donation is encouraged to help support Sprocket, which has mounted dozens of murals since 2014.

“If you want to be sure to save your slot and your desired time, we do advise people to sign up ahead of time,” Hendricks said. “But we will take people if they just show up at the Capitol steps. Just know that we will give preference to people who have already secured their tickets online.”

The mural tours fall smack-dab in the middle of the months-long 2021 Harrisburg Mural Festival. Sprocket’s third biannual mural festival began in June with, to date, new murals in Midtown, Allison Hill and Penbrook.

Additional murals are planned this month and next, including Sprocket’s largest project ever—a mural along the Mulberry Street Bridge.

Later in September, Sprocket will celebrate its 50^th mural produced in Harrisburg, Hendricks said.

“Overall, we feel like it’s a very exciting time,” she said. “We love sharing the community’s excitement, joy and appreciation for the murals.”

Gallery Walk, organized by the Art Association of Harrisburg, takes place Sunday, Sept. 12, noon to 5 p.m., at venues around Harrisburg. For more information, visit their website and/or read TheBurg’s recent feature story.

Sprocket Mural Works will begin mural tours starting at 1 p.m., with the 3^rd Street route beginning on the hour and the downtown route on the half-hour. Tour-goers should meet at the bottom of the state Capitol steps at N. 3^rd and State streets. To reserve a spot on the tour, visit their website’s mural tour page.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 3, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Artist Gloria Jean Martin completed her mural for Sprocket Mural Works in the Patrick Alley pocket park.

It seems some of the hottest and rainiest days are behind us, Harrisburg. Cooler days are here just in time for the long weekend. Before you head out to the Kipona festival, catch up on this week’s local news, below.

Ana White was named Harrisburg’s new director of community relations and engagement for the police bureau, our online story reported. White, a Harrisburg native, takes the place of Blake Lynch, who held the position for three years before recently leaving.

The Broad Street Market met its fundraising goal and can move forward with replacing its iconic sign, our reporting found. The sign was damaged during two wind storms in the past year.

The Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz will hold Jazz Walk in Midtown on Sept. 10, our online story reported. Musicians will play at venues across the neighborhood, giving attendees a chance to sample the local talent.

The commonwealth held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in the Riverfront Office Center this past week, our online story reported. They hoped to increase accessibility for those who have not yet received the shot.

Our Community Corner has all of September’s notable local events for your perusing. Jazz & Wine Fest, Gallery Walk, Restaurant Week, we’ve got all the deets, here.

The federal eviction ban came to halt last week, leaving local tenant activists wondering what’s next. As Dauphin County distributes millions of dollars to renters in need, some activists aren’t sure it’ll be enough to prevent a possible eviction crisis, our reporting found.

Harrisburg’s mid-year financial condition appears strong, with a healthy budget balance, according to a mid-year fiscal update. Our online story has more information on what the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg discussed during a recent meeting.

The Harrisburg Mural Festival is moving on to its next project, the Mulberry Street Bridge, our reporting found. This will be organizer Sprocket Mural Works’ largest mural yet.

The Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority chose local developers Chris and Erica Bryce and contractor Harrisburg Commercial Interiors to complete the MarketPlace development in Midtown, our online story reported. The land consists of 67 lots sprinkled between Reily Street and the Broad Street Market area.

The local Make-A-Wish chapter will hold a food truck festival on City Island on Sept. 18 to raise support for kids with critical illnesses, our online story reported. They hope to raise enough money to grant wishes to three children.

Many Methodist churches in Harrisburg were forced to close and were put on the sales market two years ago. Our magazine feature tells story behind what happened and where congregations are now.

Street parking rates in Harrisburg recently were raised, and our editor has something to say about it. Who thought $4-an-hour parking was a good idea?

For the month of September, our editor reflects on the Harrisburg arts community’s resilience during the pandemic. He encourages people to continue supporting local theaters, museums and galleries.

Sara Bozich has lots of fun ways for you to spend your Labor Day weekend. Find them, here.

Significant rainfall and flooding hit Harrisburg earlier this week, leading the city to take safety measures, our reporting found. They set up barricades at low-lying areas prone to flooding and cleaned out storm drains.

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Harrisburg Mural Festival rolls into September with its largest project yet

August 31, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Artist Gloria Jean Martin stands in front of her mural, “The Pollinators,” in the Patrick Alley pocket park.

Harrisburg’s largest mural project yet—spanning the Mulberry Street Bridge—will launch this weekend by the nonprofit Sprocket Mural Works as part of the continuing 2021 Harrisburg Mural Festival.

Simultaneously, a Steelton mural project will begin this week, as two community murals wrap up—one in Penbrook and the other in a Midtown Harrisburg pocket park.

Mulberry Street Bridge

Mural work is set for Sept. 4 to 10, with murals spanning 230 feet across the eastbound side of the bridge—and measuring 7 feet high—in this apprenticeship-type project led by prominent New York City muralist and Harrisburg native Ian Potter.

“With the city’s and PennDOT’s permission, 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 groundbreaking in many ways—using a unique artistic method and process. And 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 will use an electro pounce machine, similar to an electric pen, to create 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 Potter, whose employer, Colossal Media, is donating paint for the project, while Sprocket is providing apprentice kits. Professionally, Potter got his start creating sets and scenic design for the city’s Gamut Theatre.

Mulberry Street bridge murals are sponsored by M&T Bank, the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, and grant funding from The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC).

“The 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 can’t wait to see the vibrant colors and montage of people that will help to bring that 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.”

Steelton Mural

After several weather-related delays in August, Sprocket will create its first mural in Steelton, beginning Sept. 1, or as soon as the remnants of Hurricane Ida clear. Sponsored by and located at Mid Penn Bank, 51 S. Front St., a giant mural wall (124 feet in length, standing 10 feet high) will pay homage to themes chosen by surveyed residents—history, diversity and the people of Steelton.

“As the only bank in Steelton, we are dedicated to supporting the community in many different ways, and we see this mural as a way to honor Steelton’s history and inspire its bright future,” said Heather Hall, Mid Penn Bank executive vice president and market president.

Muralist Matt Halm of Allentown has experience creating community murals, and he invites the public to come help paint the mural—tentatively set for Labor Day weekend—with updates and times posted on Sprocket’s social media.

“It’s an extremely exciting coincidence that two of our largest-scale mural projects—the Mulberry Street Bridge and Mid Penn Bank in Steelton—will be created simultaneously,” Caruso said. “It’s rewarding to reach into neighboring Steelton to extend our mission of uplifting people through art.”

Just Wrapped Up

Pocket park: Artist Gloria Jean Martin has completed “The Pollinators,” a mural sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to bring attention to the importance of bees and other pollinators, whose population is declining amid climate change. Located along Midtown Harrisburg’s Patrick Alley, the mural features floral designs, bees and butterflies, to match the pocket park’s gardens of native pollinator-friendly plants donated by Manada Conservancy and planted by community volunteers.

“The department is happy to support Sprocket’s environmental education project. The project’s mural component is an innovative tool to increase awareness about climate change,” said Kathleen Banski, DEP environmental education program coordinator. “The artwork, and the immersive local experience of walking through pocket park, helps deliver a meaningful message about the vital roles native plants and honeybees play in our environment—which project leaders hope will ultimately resonate in people’s hearts, minds, and habits.”

Additional funding for “The Pollinators” comes from Homeland Center, LINKBANK and the Auchincloss Family Fund at TFEC.

“Part of Homeland’s mission is investing in the communities we serve. The pocket park is a wonderful example of exemplary community service to the Harrisburg community. We are proud and honored to be able to support this endeavor. Kudos to Sprocket Mural Works for the important work they are doing,” said Wendy Shumaker, director of marketing, Homeland Center and Homeland at Home.

“LINKBANK is thrilled to support the Midtown Historic District through our contribution to Sprocket Mural Works. Our mission to ‘Positively Impact Lives’ becomes fulfilled as we continue to support our communities through projects like this,” said Cheryl Howard, LINKBANK regional president, Capital Region.

“The Auchincloss Family Fund at The Foundation for Enhancing Communities celebrates the energy and vitality of the Midtown Historic District. Contributing to Sprocket Mural Works assures us that this energy will become visible,” said Susan Auchincloss.

Penbrook Borough Building: Completed in August, a montage of Penbrook children’s faces comprises a mural painted by Sarah Fogg of Harrisburg. Located on the borough’s administrative building, 150 S. 28th St., the mural was funded by a generous community donor and faces the borough’s Elm Street Station Park featuring a children’s playground.

Upcoming Projects

Welcome back, Brandon Spicer-Crawley: A 2019 Harrisburg Mural Festival artist, Brandon Spicer-Crawley of the Philadelphia area returns to extend his mural on the Millworks Lumber Storage Building off N. 4th Street. Sprocket is proud to provide a platform for this both talented and intellectually disabled artist. His mural is sponsored by Pennsy Supply, Inc.

“Pennsy Supply, Inc. has been in the heart of Central Pennsylvania for 100 years. We believe that art is fundamental to our humanity to inspire us, foster creativity, and bring us all together—regardless of our differences. We’re excited to be a part of supporting Brandon’s artistic journey and we’re proud to sponsor the beautification of the city that Pennsy Supply calls home,” said a Pennsy Supply spokesperson.

Furry friends: The importance and joy of pet adoption will be highlighted in a mural funded by corporate sponsor Chewy, located at Anastacia’s Restaurant, 1535 N. 6th St., Harrisburg. This mural is also being produced in collaboration with—and to raise awareness of—the Humane Society of Harrisburg.

Strawberry Square: Two new murals will brighten the Strawberry Square shopping district, thanks to nonprofit real estate development organization and longtime Sprocket supporter Harristown.

Celebrating Black Lives: A steering committee of community members is developing a “Celebrating Black Lives” mural theme, identifying a location, and evaluating artist portfolios, from those who identified themselves as local Black artists during Sprocket’s call for artists.

Background: The 2021 Harrisburg Mural Festival is Sprocket’s third biennial summer festival. The majority of Sprocket’s 47 murals were created during the 2017 and 2019 Harrisburg Mural Festivals by local, regional, national and international artists. This year, rather than planning a concentrated 10-day mural festival taking place simultaneously at multiple locations, Sprocket is organizing continuous, summer-long mural projects popping up throughout the city.

For more information: sprocketmuralworks.com; @sprocketmuralworks on Instagram and Facebook; @SprocketMurals on Twitter.

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Creation & Pollination: Sprocket Mural Works creates pocket park and mural to encourage environmentalism in Harrisburg

August 31, 2021 | by Maddie Gittens

Volunteers help paint a mural in Patrick Alley.

Patrick Alley in Midtown Harrisburg likely would’ve fit the description of what moms picture when they tell their kids to avoid walking in dark alleys.

It was an overgrown, neglected space known for crime and trash dumping behind a strip of businesses on the 1300-block of N. 3rd Street—not exactly pedestrian-friendly.

But co-founder of Sprocket Mural Works, Meg Caruso, saw potential.

In 2019, Sprocket completed a mural on the side of the Broad Street Army and Navy Store on Sayford Street. During the outreach process, Caruso was talking with neighbors and heard a recurring theme—their dissatisfaction with the adjacent Patrick Alley. Caruso and volunteers developed a plan.

Starting on Martin Luther King Jr. day in 2020, a group of over 30 people from Sprocket and the neighborhood group, Friends of Midtown, hauled out two truckloads of trash, furniture and weeds from the alley. Since then, there have been several more cleanup days.

Over the next year, the organization, with the help of local volunteers, transformed the blighted alley into a pocket park—a colorful, natural escape.

Volunteers planted over 100 new plants, installed a rain barrel to water them, spread wood chips, and, in typical Sprocket style, brought in an artist to paint a mural.

“Murals and plants are both very powerful forces individually, but even more so together,” Caruso said.

Bee Creative

While the Patrick Alley project has had a huge aesthetic impact on the neighborhood, Caruso was quick to point out that the endeavor was far more encompassing.

Funded largely by an Environmental Education Grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection, the mural and park were created to be both environmentally friendly and educational.

“We are really happy to be able to support and work with them,” said Kathleen Banski, the environmental education program coordinator for the DEP. “They are really trying to identify what the community needs.”

While the DEP funded 51 projects in 2021 and has awarded over $12 million in grants over the years, Banski believes that this is the first time they’ve funded an artistic mural. Sprocket’s vision and energy drew them in, she said.

The mural, by artist Gloria Jean Martin, features flowers and honeybees, highlighting the vital role of pollinators and native plants in the state’s agricultural environment.

Martin, a Harrisburg native, finds inspiration for her work through nature, fitting in perfectly with the theme of the project.

“Nature is our first teacher,” she said. “We learn a lot from nature. It impacts our lives.”

Caruso said that Martin was a natural choice for the project since she specializes in painting whimsical floral scenes, including bees and butterflies.

According to Penn State University’s Center for Pollinator Research, the state is home to hundreds of species of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths and beetles. Crops that rely on pollinators contribute over $260 million to the state’s economy annually.

However, according to the center, pollinator populations across the world are shrinking due to habitat fragmentation, pesticide use, climate change and the spread of emergent pathogens, parasites and predators.

The mural shines a spotlight on these crucial creatures to the environment, Caruso said. Informational signage will also accompany the mural as an educational tool.

But not only does the mural seek to communicate a message, the entire park is an example of what residents can do to create an environmentally friendly garden in their own space.

Manada Conservancy, a land trust dedicated to preserving land in Dauphin County, donated 100 native plants to Sprocket’s pocket park, said Jennifer Dunlap, former executive director.

The plants include thin leaf sunflowers, raspberry wine bee balm, purple coneflowers and black-eyed Susans, among others.

According to Dunlap, native plants are the foundation for a healthy ecosystem and sustain creatures, such as pollinators. However, native plants are disappearing as development encroaches and invasive species take over.

Dunlap and Sprocket hope that the pocket park will serve as a model for the community.

“Planting native plants is something almost everyone can do,” Dunlap said. “It’s a way that anyone can be a part of restoring the environment.”

Manada offers the community a chance to start their own native gardens at their native plant sales. One will take place at the East Hanover Township Nature Park on Sept. 11.

They also plan to hold a pop-up native plant sale in partnership with Sprocket near the pocket park.

“We want to make it easy to get native plants into local people’s hands,” Caruso said.

Not only did Manada share in Sprocket’s vision for creating more gardens in the city, other organizations donated, as well.

Master gardeners from Penn State University brought armfuls of plants and bulbs to plant in the pocket park. The city also pitched in, leaving a pile of woodchips for volunteers to spread.

“There’s a lot of people invested, and hopefully with the mural, we can find ways to not only make it look good, but have people learn something,” Caruso said.

Planting Beauty

When Puja Gellerman moved to Harrisburg a few years ago, she was hoping to get involved in the community. She loved to garden and started asking around to see where the local green spaces were.

When Gellerman started talking with Caruso about the neglected Patrick Alley and creating a vision for it, she saw an opportunity to get involved in bringing beauty to the community.

“As an occupational therapist, I know and understand the therapeutic value of gardening,” she said. “I’ve always had the belief that the beauty around us helps us feel good.”

Gellerman participated in the first cleanup day in 2020 and more since then. She hopes it will serve as a “pilot space” for other areas in the city.

Sprocket is already working with Manada to discuss future partnerships and ways to enhance Harrisburg’s beauty and environment.

“The strength that they have, that we are really excited about, is that they are going to be making local connections,” Banski said. “Environmental education isn’t teaching people what to think, but how to think about what is going on in their community.”

Most of Sprocket’s murals involve some preliminary cleanup and landscaping, but this was their first that included gardening on a large scale. According to Caruso, she hopes it’s not their last.

“I think this is a great example of what can be done in the city when everyone pitches in,” Caruso said. “We have so many people willing to help make things beautiful.”

The Patrick Alley Pocket Park is located in Midtown Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.sprocketmuralworks.com.

To learn more about Manada Conservancy, visit www.manada.org.

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