CITY OF WATERBURY

OFFICE OF MAYOR NEIL M. O'LEARY &

ARTS & CULTURE COLLABORATIVE, WATERBURY REGION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 4, 2012

Contact: Kathleen McNamara 203-573-5871 or Diane Ploch 203-757-0701, Ext. 316

ARTISTS BRUCE AND JOANNE HUNTER CHOSEN FOR WATERBURY CITY CANVASES PROJECT

APRIL 4, 2012 - Waterbury, CT – The City of Waterbury and the Arts and Culture Collaborative, Waterbury Region (ACC) are pleased to announce the selection of artists Bruce and Joanne Hunter to design and create the City’s mosaic mural as part of a City Canvases Initiative through the State’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and the Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA). The project is being funded with support from the DECD, which also receives support from the national Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

City Canvases is a one-time initiative aimed to enhance public spaces through the commissioning of large-scale works of public art. The City’s mosaic mural will be placed in the City’s downtown on a large brick wall located at 90 South Main Street. Bruce and Joanne Hunter were chosen for the commission by a selection committee guiding the project.

The Hunters are Connecticut artists with a long history of creating large-scale mosaic murals throughout Connecticut. Both Bruce and Joanne have BFA degrees from Pratt Institute with backgrounds in design, creation and installation of public art. They are both award-winning fine artists in a variety of media, including pastels, watercolors and oils.

The mosaic mural will be designed by the Hunters and will be fabricated under their guidance with the help of hundreds of community volunteers. The mosaic will be created in 3x5’ sections on the stage of the Palace Theater during the first and second weeks of June. The finished panels will be assembled and installed on 90 South Main Street by the end of June.

The City of Waterbury and the Arts and Culture Collaborative will be working together to coordinate project volunteers and seek project sponsorships. For more information about becoming a sponsor or volunteer, please call Kathleen McNamara at 203-573-5871, Sarah Geary at 203-597-3444, or Diane Ploch at 203-757-0701, Ext. 316. For more information about the City Canvas project, visit the ACC website at: www.waterburyregionarts.com.

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