Mural, Taste of Grand Island both coming into form

Artist Terry Klaaren said he's going to use "all the tricks of the trade" that he's learned in 40 years as a professional muralist to complete the Grand Island Mural Project.

Thursday morning, Klaaren began initial phases of work on the 3,000-square-foot backside of the Grand Island Plaza, which faces Baseline Road near Sidway Elementary School. He said he began "lining out with basic black lines a cartoon of what's going on the wall in color" to guide volunteer painters. Preliminary concepts of the mural will feature 15-foot wide arches strung together "to make a nice arcade," he said. Each arch will show Island scenarios and landmarks.

Mural project organizer Corey McGowan said he's hopeful all needs will be met so that the mural will be ready for the first-ever Taste of Grand Island/Fall Festival on Oct. 13. McGowan has lined up 45 vendors, including 22 restaurants and 23 various exhibits from Grand Island for the festival, which will run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Grand Island Plaza, 2411 Grand Island Blvd., and will include live music, restaurants and vendors.

Klaaren said he did a mural in Chicago probably three times the size of the GI mural, but in terms of square-footage, the GI mural is probably the "largest size I've painted, and one of the most challenging because in this case I'm dealing with weather. Right now it's great, but I've got a window of time to do this, and the weather is going to add or take away from that time."

Taste of Grand Island

Participating businesses

Aceti's Wine & Spirits; River Stone Grill; Theodore's; Saffire Grill; Serene Gardens; Town Cafe; Rocky's Island Pizza; The Beach House; Dick and Jenny's; Adrian's; Brickoven; Divine Ice Cream; Just Pizza; Pizza Amore; The Village Inn; Say Cheese Pizza; McMahon's; Dunkin Donuts; The Cheesy Chick; River Oaks; Bonefish Grill; TSTP Barbecue; Coppola's cupcakes & desserts; Allstate Mastantuono Agency; Fuccillo Chevrolet; Grandmas Girls; Bath and Bliss; State Farm; Wavelengths; Patty Cancilla Jewelry; Soma Wellness Center; Buffalo Athletic Club; Rhino T-shirts and Apparel; Vegetables, Plants and More; Tastefully Simple; Wavelengths; Stella and Dot; Island Hair Studio; Autism Support Group; Dog Rescue; People Inc.

Valued Sponsors

Niagara Frontier Publications; Fuccillo Chevrolet; Island Ship Center; Flower A Day; All State - Mastantuono Agency; Rhino Tshirt and Apparel; Titan Entertainment; Island Optical; Tops; Island Pediatrics; Isle De Grande; American Legion; State Farm - Bob Piatek.