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New downtown mural welcomes visitors to Niagara Falls USA

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Tue, Jul 7th 2020 05:20 pm

A colorful new mural can be seen on the side of the Wine on Third building, located at 501 Third St., Niagara Falls, facing Ferry Avenue. The postcard-inspired mural, “Greetings from Niagara Falls,” was conceived and painted by local freelance artist Paul Clifton. It was commissioned by the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association (DNFBA) as a way to showcase Niagara County activities and welcome guests to Niagara Falls USA.

A press release noted, “The mural complements various art installations throughout the downtown Niagara Falls district and helps to anchor the businesses along Third Street.”

After careful consideration, “Greetings from Niagara Falls” has images illustrating iconic regional assets and events, including the Niagara Wine Trail, Nik Wallenda’s tightrope walk, the Rainbow Bridge, the Niagara Gorge and the U.S. flag.

“This new mural will not only brighten up a blank space, but will entice guests to visit Wine on Third and other businesses along Third Street,” DNFBA Chairperson Chris MacKendrick said.

He noted the DNFBA has supported many outdoor artistic endeavors throughout the years, including the Nikola Tesla mural on the side of the neighboring Power City Eatery, and various wooden panels depicting historical landmarks and figures.

“With the need for social distancing this year, funding an outdoor mural seemed like a logical activity in our district, while inviting guests to take selfies and utilize social media in a fun and safe way,” said Susan Swiatkowski, tourism development manager at Destination Niagara USA and secretary for the DNFBA.

Guests are encouraged to post their photos on social media using the hashtags #DNFBA and #NiagaraFallsUSA.

“We are happy to host this mural on the side of our building in the hopes to give guests additional things to see and do in our area,” said Shawn Weber, owner of Wine on Third, which reopened to the public on June 30. “We hope our long-standing and new patrons enjoy this artwork while spending time with us.”

A native of Niagara Falls, Clifton earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drawing and painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Although he has created several private murals throughout Western New York, “Greetings from Niagara Falls” is his largest and most accessible mural to date. More of his work can be found at www.PaulCliftonArt.com.

“Greetings from Niagara Falls” was made possible through matching funds from the Niagara County Center for Economic Development’s William G. Mayne, Jr. Business/Community Enhancement Program, established in 1998 to enhance and enrich the business climate and overall landscape in Niagara County’s communities. Special thanks was given to Dave Rulli Electric for supplying a scissor lift for the art installation.

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